Italian Serie A preview: CFC Genoa – SSC Napoli
Rossoblu recovery going strong
Like many fellow European football hopefuls, Genoa did not make the best of starts to their league campaign and were struggling in the bottom half of the league for much of the opening rounds. Such a poor run of results cost long serving coach Gian Gasperini
his job at the helm of the club and Davide Ballardini was brought in.
The former Lazio coach has managed to get the desired results with Genoa and Rossoblu are slowly creeping up the table. As things stand, Genoa are ninth in the league with 21 points from the opening 15 games. This positive run of results has left Genoa just
two points off a European place.
Davide Ballardini will have to take drastic measures to improve Rossoblu’s home form as his side have managed to win just three home games thus far while tasting defeat in three others. A home victory against the in-form Neapolitans will surely set the tone
for the rest of the season.
Partenopei gunning for Scudetto
Walter Mazzarri’s arrival at San Paolo spelled the start of a new era for Azzurri and the trend has continued into the new season. Napoli are going in full throttle at the moment and should Cavani and Co. manage to keep up the good work, there is no reason
why they can’t challenge for Scudetto come the end of the season.
Walter Mazzarri’s men are fourth in the league with 27 points; just three points behind second placed Lazio and six points off league leaders AC Milan. Should other results go in their favour this weekend, Napoli can go second with a victory tonight.
Partenopei go into this game on the back of a morale boosting 1 – 0 victory over Champions League hopefuls Palermo. The final score line of 1 – 0 does not do justice to the utter domination Napoli enjoyed over the Sicilians. The result will mean Mazzarri’s
men will take to Stadio Luigi Ferraris with utmost confidence in their abilities.
Team News
CFC Genoa
Ballardini will have to do without the services of Giuseppe Sculli, Kakha Kaladze and Rodrigo Palacio as the trio is out injured and will not be available for selection. Ballardini will use the 4-3-1-2 formation that has brought around the recent positive run
of results.
SSC Napoli
Cristiano Lucarelli, Matteo Gianello and star forward Ezequiel Lavezzi are out with injuries and not will travel to Genoa. Jose Ernesto Sosa will partner Hamsik in the attacking third while Edinson Cavani will play the lone striker’s role.
Key Players
Miguel Veloso
The highly rated Portuguese player started his Italian adventure in top gear only to be sidelined with injuries. His return has strengthened the Rossoblu midfield to a considerable degree and Veloso will have to dominate the midfield if Genoa are to take
any points off Napoli.
Edinson Cavani
Cavani has found a new lease of life with Azzurri and has been banging in goals left, right and centre. Against a fragile Rossoblu defence, Cavani will be given the opportunity to skip ahead of Samuel Eto’o in the
Capocannoniere charts.
Prediction
While Genoa are a talented side, Napoli have a much more balanced team with Hamsik and Cavani being true match winners. The Neapolitans will continue their league pursuit with a 2 – 1 victory away from home.
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