Serie A Preview: SSC Napoli - AC Milan (Part 2)
Team News
SSC Napoli
Walter Mazzarri will be without the services of Cristiano Lucarelli and Paolo Cannavaro. Lucarelli is out injured while Paolo is suspended for the tie.
Expected Formation
Napoli will take to the pitch in an attacking 3-4-2-1 formation. Edinson Cavani has been brilliant so far this season thus taking the lone striker role. Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi will play just behind the Uruguayan forward. Andrea
Dossena and Christian Maggio will look to stretch the opposition on their respective flanks while Gargano and Pazienza will look to dominate Andrea Pirlo and co in the midfield.
Probable Line up
Morgan De Sanctis, Hugo Campagnaro, Paolo Cannavaro, Gianluca Grava, Chirstian Maggio, Michele Pazienza, Walter Gargano, Andrea Dossena, Marek Hamsik, Edinson Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi
AC Milan
Massimiliano Allegri has a never ending injury list to think about. Skipper Massimo Ambrosini, Thiago Silva, Marek Jankulovski were out injured and latest reports indicate that Ronaldinho and Zambrotta have joined their teammates on the
treatment table. Marco Storari was unavailable against Real Madrid but he has recovered and is expected to keep gloves ahead of Marco Amelia.
Expected Formation
In Absence of so many players, Allegri might be forced to change his tactics for this match. AC Milan usually plays in a 4-3-3 formation but Allegri is likely to gamble with a 4-3-1-2 setup. Alexandre Pato and Zlatan Ibrahimovic will lead
the line with Robinho playing in the hole just behind the strikers. Allegri has already confirmed that Gattuso will play from the off. He will be partnered by Kevin-prince Boateng and the duo will look to protect the Milanese midfield maestro, Andrea Pirlo.
Daniele Bonera will take the right back spot while Luca Antonini has already made the left back position for himself. In absence of Silva, Allegri will play either Mario Yepes or Papastathopoulos.
“I still have to choose between Papastathopoulos and Yepes.Papastathopoulos is doing well; he’s a young lad who did well in our preseason games. As for his performance in the championship, he wasn’t so poor in Cesena, he only made a mistake
on the second goal, yet he received excessive criticism. Sokratis has great margins of improvement and his proving this in training”
Probable Line up
Christian Abbiati, Daniele Bonera, Alessandro Nesta, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Luca Antonini, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso, Alexandre Pato, Robinho, Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Key Players
Marek Hamsik
The Slovakian midfielder has fared exceptionally well against AC Milan over the years and the stage is set for the young sensation to perform yet again. Hamsik is the central cog in the Naploi’s build up play and his form on the day will
be crucial for the likes of Lavezzi and Cavani to score.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The Lanky Swede has played well for Milan ever since he made his switch from Barcelona. Ibrahimovic’s build up play and the ability to hold the ball under pressure is second to none. Ibra will have to tee up the likes of Robinho and Pato
while also looking to score himself.
Prediction
The match is set to be a scintillating contest between two proponents of beautiful football. AC Milan’s Serie A form has been impressive while Napoli are a formidable side at Stadio San Paolo. The match can go either way but one gets the
feel that Rossoneri might just edge out the encounter with a 1 – 2 score line.
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