Serie A Preview: SSC Napoli - AC Milan (Part 1)
Partenopei’s Champions League ambitions
Following a slow start to their campaign, Napoli’s season is now going from strength to strength. Walter Mazzarri has done tremendous work with Napoli and the Azzurri are now challenging four a Champions League spot. Neapolitans currently
rank sixth in the domestic league, Serie A, with 12 points from 7 matches. A victory tonight will propel them to third spot in the league.
Partenopei’s only loss came at the hands of Chievo Verona on 22ndSeptember as high flying donkey’s inflicted a shock home defeat on Napoli. On their last Serie A outing, Napoli were held to a 1 – 1 draw
by Catania in Sicily. Mazzarri’s side failed to regain momentum against Liverpool on Thursday as Liverpool held them to a scoreless draw at home. With Serie A getting breathtakingly competitive this season, Napoli must try and win their home matches and tonight’s
fixture provides them with an ideal opportunity to do just that.
Traditionally, Stadio Sao Paolo is a fortress for Napoli and away teams are sent home with tails between their legs. This season however, Napoli hasn’t been exceptional at home. The club has just managed 4 points from their home matches
so far. To their credit however, Napoli has done well against all strong oppositions. Azzurri won against both AS Roma and UC Sampdoria while only the heroics of Sebastian Frey in Fiorentina goal denied them a victory over Viola.
Rossoneri looking for Solace in Serie A
AC Milan was thumped 2 – 0 by a far superior Real Madrid on Tuesday. The slow and static Milan midfield was left chasing shadow of springy Galactico youngsters. However, a defeat at Bernabeau is not a disaster, if anything, it was expected.
The Rossoneri midfield was always going to struggle against teams who play a quick tempo. Rossoneri now look for redemption in Serie A.
Il Davioli currently stands third in the league with 14 points from opening seven matches. Rossoneri are undefeated in the league since their 2 – 0 upset at the hands of Cesena on match day two. Massimiliano Allegri’s side are on a three
match winning streak following victories over Genoa, Parma and Chievo Verona and a victory tonight will see Rossoneri leapfrog inter in to second place. Following Inter’s draw against Sampdoria last night, the match brings ideal opportunity for Rossoneri to
make up for their early season slip ups.
Worryingly for Milan, key players in the likes of Thiago Silva and Ronaldinho have become the latest injury victims. Allegri will need to jingle with his tactics a bit following Santiago Bernabeau humiliation. Although Napoli doesn’t have
class and panache of the Galacticos in their midfield, Azzurri do have a highly mobile midfield that can create all sorts of problems for a broken Milan side.
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