Serie A Preview: Inter Milan vs. SSC Napoli – Can Claudio Ranieri pass the Azzurri test?
Nerazzurri keen to maintain unbeaten run over Napoli at San Siro
Inter have been having problems putting up consistent performances ever since Leonardo http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Araujo-c6435 left for Paris Saint-Germain at end of the 2010/11 season. The team could not manage a single victory in their first three Serie A games, which lead to the sacking
of Gian Piero Gasperini.
However, arrival of former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roma-c31603 boss Claudio Ranieri has steadied the ship somewhat, and the Nerazzurri are likely to return to winning ways.
Ranieri has led the team to two back-to-back victories; first against Bologna (1-3) and then in the UEFA Champions League group stage against CSKA Moscow (2-3). However, the coach faces trouble with major injuries to key players. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Wesley-Sneijder-c36799, Thiago
Motta, Maicon and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Andrea-Ranocchia-c5708 are all sidelined. Missing key players in the middle and back of the field would be a great challenge for the newly appointed tactician.
The upcoming game against Napoli is going to be a vital turning point for the Nerazzurri this term. If the former treble winners beat the Azzurri, they will regain their lost confidence which will prove vital for the upcoming games. However, the Nerazzurri
have not lost against Napoli at home in 17 years and they might be able to run their magic again this time around and find the desire to beat the Neapolitans.
President Massimo Moratti, while praising the newly appointed coach, said:
"Ranieri has had a very good start at Inter. He has been able to get control of the team from a psychological and tactical standpoint. It wasn't easy but he has done it. These results were very important for us and now we hope to do well against a Napoli
side that has been impressive so far.''
Partenopei to miss top scorer Edinson Cavani
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Napoli-c40003 have had a good run in the Italian top flight so far and are looking strong competitors for Scudetto. The Blues have managed to win two games of the four they have played; however, they lost on one occasion when Chievo Verona managed to upset the
Neapolitans, while the drew a blank against Fiorentina to drop two more points.
It is reckoned that last season’s third placers are going to make a concrete bid for the Italian title. However, injuries to important players have left coach Walter Mazzarri worried about the future. The club’s top goalscorer, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Edinson-Cavani-c11955, is suffering
from an ankle injury and he needs a few weeks before he can fully recover.
Moreover, defender http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Salvatore-Aronica-c32276 is also sidelined due to an injury. Mazzarri is in for a ride as the Azzurri visit San Siro to face Inter Milan.
Carrying a long history of losing against Inter at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, the Partenopei are keen to end the voodoo and claim their first victory at San Siro in 17 years.
The injured defender, while recently talking to the media, said:
“In these last few years we have broken many taboos and now is the perfect time to destroy this one too. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 are very strong and we don’t have a great tradition at San Siro, but hope to put an end to these negative statistics.”
Team News
Inter Milan
The Nerazzurri squad is injury plagued and Ranieri would have to do without the services of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Thiago-Motta-c34897.
For the hosts, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Diego-c11058 Forlan would be the players to watch out for.
SSC Napoli
With early injuries to key players, Mazzarri would travel to San Siro without Salvatore Aronica, Edinson Cavani, Blerim Dzemaili, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Miguel-Britos-c25544.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ezequiel-Lavezzi-c13073 and Marek Hamsik would want to impress in absence of El Matador, Edinson Cavani.
Prediction
With both sides missing out on key players, it will be a tough game to call out, especially with both sides looking equally matched. However, the game is expected to end in favour of the hosts, and the score at the final whistle would be: Inter 2-1 Napoli.
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