Serie A match preview: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cagliari-Calcio-c38716 vs. S.S.C Napoli
Cagliari will host Napoli in the matchday 7 encounter of the 2011/12 Serie A at the Stadio Sant’Elia on Sunday, October 23rd, 2011 at 14:00 GMT.
The Rossoblu were held to a goalless draw in their previous league game against Siena last weekend. While, Napoli suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of Parma at home in their previous league outing.
Massimo Ficcadenti’s men have made an impressive start to the new season and are placed 3rd in the league table with only one point adrift of leaders, Juventus. On the other hand, Napoli are placed 5th in the table with 10 points from their six games.
Cagliari
The result of the game holds immense importance for the host’s to close the gap on Juventus. The fans will be hoping for an improved performance at home from the Isolani as they have scored only two goals in three games played in their own backyard.
The Rossoblu should have been sitting top of the table had their home form been better than what they have done at Sant’Elia so far. Cagliari have failed to win in the previous four matches against Napoli.
Napoli
The Partenopei side held German giants, Bayern Munich, to a hard fought draw in the Champions League action during the midweek. Walter Mazzarri’s men should shift back the focus on the league and must make full use of the decent start to their Serie A season.
Walter Mazzarri’s men had the better of Cagliari last season after http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ezequiel-Lavezzi-c13073’s 94th minute winner handed them the win. Napoli’s away form has been impressive thus far and they have picked up six points from three games played on the road.
Team News
Cagliari
On-loan midfielder, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sebastian-Eriksson-c32721, is missing for the game through a hamstring injury. Apart from the Swede, the host’s will have a full strength squad available at their disposal.
Expected line-up: Agazzi; Pisano, Canini, Astori, Agostini; Biondini, Nainggolan, Conti; Cossu, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Thiago-Ribeiro-c34900; Larrivey
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Napoli-c40003
There are no fresh injury concerns for the Neapolitan as they continue to be without the services of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Goran-Pandev-c15161. Mazzarri is expected to ring a few changes after playing almost same team in the previous two matches.
Expected line-up: De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica; Maggio, Inler, Gargano, Dossena; Hamsik, Lavezzi; Cavani
Players to Watch
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Daniele-Conti-c10111 (Cagliari)
The skipper has been in phenomenal form since the start of the season and has been inspirational behind his team’s positive start to the 2011/12 campaign. The midfielder has scored two goals in the current campaign for his side and has played a crucial role in setting up several too. His form will have a lot of say in building on his team’s impressive start to the season.
Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli)
It’s about time that the Argentinean must shoulder the goal-scoring burden with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/San-Lorenzo-c40436 star has scored only one goal in the ongoing campaign but his overall contribution has been imposing.
Prediction
It promises to be a tight contest between two of the in-form teams in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Italy-c2926. However, Napoli have the edge in terms of strike options they have at their disposal and their defence has also been really tight this season. The visitors are expected to edge out in a high scoring affair. Verdict: 2-3
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