Serie A Week 33 - 26/4/09 (19.30 UK)
Napoli - Inter
Stadio San Paolo
Roberto Donadoni’s arrival has steadied the ship at Napoli, but he is still waiting to experience his first win and last week’s defeat at Cagliari threatens to send them back to the form that spelled the end of Edy Reja’s reign.
The Partenopei have scored just three goals in their last eight matches, six of those encounters have seen them fail to score. The club have recorded just one League win in 2009, and that was back at the start of January – when they defeated Catania. There have been 14 games since then where the Neapolitans have failed to leave with the three points, and it would be a brave man who would bet on them ending that streak against the League leaders.
However, Jose Mourinho’s side have looked susceptible in their last two outings. Both Palermo and Juventus managed to hold them to a draw, but the simple facts are that the Nerazzurri have been beaten just twice in 32 Serie A matches and have failed to score in just three of their League games this term. It is 23 outings since they last recorded a nil on the scoreline and 13 since they were defeated at Atalanta in early January.
The first meeting this season, at San Siro, ended 2-1 to Inter but is remembered for two smashing goals. Sulley Muntari scored with an audacious back-heel flick but the goal of the night went to Ezequiel Lavezzi. The Argentine striker dribbled through the Inter defence before playing a one-two with Marcelo Zalayeta and finishing sweetly.
Last season though, in the corresponding fixture, Napoli came out on top, recording a 1-0 victory at the San Paolo thanks to a Zalayeta strike after three minutes. That win was the first Serie A loss inflicted on Inter in 2007-08 and ended a 31-match unbeaten streak.
The home side have actually won their last two home games against Inter, with a 1-0 win back in 2000-01 alongside the one last term. Before that though Inter have a history of heading back north feeling pretty pleased with themselves.
Napoli have a lengthy injured list. Uruguayan midfielder Walter Gargano heads the walking wounded, midfielders Christian Maggio and Leandro Rinaudo join him and two goalkeepers – Gennaro Iezzo and Nicolas Navarro – are also out. Paolo Cannavaro’s indiscipline means that he serves a one-match ban.
For Inter, long-term injury worry Douglas Maicon has been sharing the treatment table with winger Amantino Mancini, midfielder Luis Jimenez and defender Nelson Rivas.
Keep an eye on: Mario Balotelli (Inter) – The teenager has scored in his last two games and is taking some of the burden off Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Last season: Napoli 1-0 Inter
Form guide: Napoli (D D D D L) Inter (W W W D D)
Napoli (probable): Bucci; Contini, Aronica, Santacroce; Vitale, Hamsik, Pazienza, Blasi, Mannini; Lavezzi, Zalayeta
Inter (probable): Julio Cesar; Santon, Samuel, Cordoba, Chivu; Muntari, Cambiasso, Zanetti; Stankovic; Ibrahimovic, Cruz
Ref: To follow...
Napoli - Inter
Stadio San Paolo
Roberto Donadoni’s arrival has steadied the ship at Napoli, but he is still waiting to experience his first win and last week’s defeat at Cagliari threatens to send them back to the form that spelled the end of Edy Reja’s reign.
The Partenopei have scored just three goals in their last eight matches, six of those encounters have seen them fail to score. The club have recorded just one League win in 2009, and that was back at the start of January – when they defeated Catania. There have been 14 games since then where the Neapolitans have failed to leave with the three points, and it would be a brave man who would bet on them ending that streak against the League leaders.
However, Jose Mourinho’s side have looked susceptible in their last two outings. Both Palermo and Juventus managed to hold them to a draw, but the simple facts are that the Nerazzurri have been beaten just twice in 32 Serie A matches and have failed to score in just three of their League games this term. It is 23 outings since they last recorded a nil on the scoreline and 13 since they were defeated at Atalanta in early January.
The first meeting this season, at San Siro, ended 2-1 to Inter but is remembered for two smashing goals. Sulley Muntari scored with an audacious back-heel flick but the goal of the night went to Ezequiel Lavezzi. The Argentine striker dribbled through the Inter defence before playing a one-two with Marcelo Zalayeta and finishing sweetly.
Last season though, in the corresponding fixture, Napoli came out on top, recording a 1-0 victory at the San Paolo thanks to a Zalayeta strike after three minutes. That win was the first Serie A loss inflicted on Inter in 2007-08 and ended a 31-match unbeaten streak.
The home side have actually won their last two home games against Inter, with a 1-0 win back in 2000-01 alongside the one last term. Before that though Inter have a history of heading back north feeling pretty pleased with themselves.
Napoli have a lengthy injured list. Uruguayan midfielder Walter Gargano heads the walking wounded, midfielders Christian Maggio and Leandro Rinaudo join him and two goalkeepers – Gennaro Iezzo and Nicolas Navarro – are also out. Paolo Cannavaro’s indiscipline means that he serves a one-match ban.
For Inter, long-term injury worry Douglas Maicon has been sharing the treatment table with winger Amantino Mancini, midfielder Luis Jimenez and defender Nelson Rivas.
Keep an eye on: Mario Balotelli (Inter) – The teenager has scored in his last two games and is taking some of the burden off Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Last season: Napoli 1-0 Inter
Form guide: Napoli (D D D D L) Inter (W W W D D)
Napoli (probable): Bucci; Contini, Aronica, Santacroce; Vitale, Hamsik, Pazienza, Blasi, Mannini; Lavezzi, Zalayeta
Inter (probable): Julio Cesar; Santon, Samuel, Cordoba, Chivu; Muntari, Cambiasso, Zanetti; Stankovic; Ibrahimovic, Cruz
Ref: To follow...
