Serie A Preview: SSC Napoli – AS Roma
Partenopei’s Champions League ambitions
Napoli has made an indifferent start to their Serie A campaign. The club is one of the many teams to be challenging for a Champions league spot and the race is likely to go neck to neck till the very end of the season.
Napoli managed to acquire some noteworthy players in the summer, Edinson Cavani being the undoubted big name. The club stands sixth in the Serie A rankings and a victory in this fixture will take them top of the league provided other results go in their
favour.
The Napolitan’s have been gaining momentum in recent times. On the last match day, Napoli came from behind to win against Cesena by a convincing 4 – 1 score line. On Thursday night’s Europa League fixture against Steaua Bucharest, the club staged a heroic
come back, to come back from a 3 – 0 score line and draw the match under controversial circumstances. Edinson Cavani scored the equaliser in the eighth minute of injury time.
Confidence will be high in the Napoli dressing room and the tie against Roma has the potential to be a tide changing event.
Roma’s disastrous start
Roma had a woeful start to its Serie A campaign. The club languishes in the 17th spot after just five rounds of football. However, things have turned for the good in recent times as the club has won both of its last two matches.
Roma defeated Inter Milan at home after Mirko Vucinic scored a brilliant diving header to inflict misery on the Nerazzuri. On Wednesday night, Roma won their first Champions League match against 2 – 1 Cluj. Ranieri is under immense pressure to get the results
and a defeat will leave his future hanging in balance.
The trip to Naples is always a difficult fixture as the Partenopei backed by their vocal home support, are a monstrous side. A victory however will put Roma’s title chase firmly back on.
Team News
Napoli: Mazzarri just has the absence of Cristiano Lucarelli to deal with. The rest of the squad will be available for selection and the coach will be able to field a full strength team.
Expected Formation
Napoli will line up in an attacking 3-4-1-2 formation; Lavezzi and Cavani will the line and Hamsik will play just behind the strikers in a trequartista role. Gargano and Hassan Yebda will provide the steel in the midfield while the duo of Cristian Maggio
and Juan Zuniga will provide the width on the flanks. In defence, Paolo Cannavaro, Hugo Campagnaro and Gianluca Grava will be given the task of handling Borriello and Francesco Totti.
Probable line up
Morgan De Sanctis, Hugo Campagnaro, Paolo Cannavaro, Gianluca Grava, Chirstian Maggio, Hassan Yebda, Walter Gargano, Juan Camilo Zuniga, Marek Hamsik, Edison Cavani , Ezequiel Lavezzi
AS Roma: Taddei and Adriano will join the first choice goalkeeper Julio Sergio on the bench. Adriano has recently stated that he isn’t fit enough for the first team football and thus wouldn’t have started anyways. Philipe Mexes and Simone
Perrotta are suspended for the fixture and won’t be available for selection
Expected Formation
Roma will take the field in a 4-3-1-2 formation. Talismanic skipper Francesco Totti will partner Marco Borriello up front. Borriello has been impressive since he made his loan move from Milan. Jeremy Menez will play the trequartista position; a role where
he hasn’t been particularly impressive. Daniele De Rossi will look to dominate Marek Hamsik in what promises to be an intriguing battle. Juan and Burdisso will form a reliable centre back pairing while Bogdan Lobont will fill in for injured Julio Sergio.
Probable line up
Julio Sergio, Marco Cassetti, Nicolas Burdisso, Juan, John Arne Riise, Daniele De Rossi, David Pizarro, Matteo Brighi, Jeremy Menez, Francesco Totti, Marco Borriello
Prediction
Both the teams are known for their attacking play and the match promises to be a spectacle. Napoli is a formidable side at home but AS Roma will be motivated to take the three points as a defeat will seriously dent Gilarossi title ambitions. The match will
finish 2 – 2 after a fascinating battle.
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