Walter Mazzarri’s men looking to end their winless streak, while Chievo target quadruple of victories over the Partenopei side
Napoli will take on Chievo Verona in matchday 23 game of the season at Stadio San Paolo on Monday, February 13, 2012 at 19:45 GMT.
The Partenopei side has not witnessed a win in their last five league matches, having drawn four and lost against Genoa recently. On the other hand, Chievo come in this game on the back of a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Parma last
weekend.
Napoli
The Azzurri have been extremely unimpressive since the turn of year, having witnessed only one league win in 2012. Their domestic form has witnessed a considerable slump this season, mainly due to their progression in the UEFA
Champions League.
Walter Mazzarri has urged his team to step up their game before the important UEFA Champions League encounter against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786. The manager said,
"Against Chievo, we need a victory at all costs, even if we play badly. We are going through a tough spell. I want to see the same enthusiasm that we see for our Champions League games in tomorrow's [Monday's] encounter at the
San Paolo stadium. I ask the fans to be behind us, we need their support."
Chievo
The Flying Donkey’s have always enjoyed playing against the Partenopei side, having registered wins in their all three previous meetings against them. Domenico Di Carlo’s men lie in the 14th place in the league table
with 27 points from 22 matches played so far.
The Gialloblu manager insists that they are looking to continue their impressive record against Napoli, but he is expecting a tough test for his side.
"Napoli have great talent. They have an incredible attack with the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Edinson-Cavani-c11955, Marek Hamsik and Goran Pandev. We will have to play a great game against them."
Team News
Napoli
The hosts will be without the services of their skipper, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Paolo-Cannavaro-c29080, who is serving a suspension after picking up a yellow card against A.C Milan last weekend. There are no major injury worries for Napoli.
Ezequiel Lavezzi is likely to replace http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Goran-Pandev-c15161 in the attack.
Napoli (probable): De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Britos, Aronica; Maggio, Gargano, Dzemaili, Zuniga; Hamsik, Lavezzi; Cavani
Chievo
The visitors have the full squad at their disposal. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sergio-Pellissier-c33091.
Chievo (probable): Sorrentino; Sardo, Andreolli, Cesar, Jokic; Bradley, Hetemaj, Sammarco; Thereau; Pellissier, Paloschi
Players to Watch
Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli)
The Argentine was badly missed after not featuring for the Vesuviani through injury recently. Lavezzi’s partnership with Edinson Cavani was a key behind his team’s success in the last season. The striker must share the goal-scoring
burden with Cavani to take his team out from the slump.
Sergio Pellissier (Chievo)
The veteran completed his 100 goals for the Flying Donkey’s against Novara recently. However, the 32-year-old has not been in the most consistent of forms, having scored only four goals this season so far. His experience will be
vital if Chievo need to register another win over Napoli.
Prediction
Despite their poor recent form and their dreadful run against the Gialloblu, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Napoli-c40003 are expected to win the game. It promises to be an attacking contest, with the hosts likely to prevail in a tight finish.
Verdict 2-1
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