Napoli vs Milan
First time I've ever opened a match thread but we surely can't get any worse!
Serie
Week 13 - 17 Nov 2012 (19.45 UK)
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Stadio San Paolo
Another defeat and another confirmation of Max Allegri - it's been a fairly standard week for Milan before their visit to Napoli.
November, as predicted, is proving to be a nasty month for the club. Fiorentina left San Siro with all three points last week, and it would be a surprise if Napoli failed to gain all three on Saturday.
Rumours that President Silvio Berlusconi is willing to spend money in January may come as a boost, but the challenge is to keep Milan within touch until then, which with this game and Juventus next week, is already looking difficult.
Allegri's selection difficulties are not helping the cause. He clearly wants to rest Stephan El Shaarawy, but cannot due to form and a lack of adequate replacements. Alexandre Pato is making it tough to justify a place in the team, and Daniele Bonera's injury means there is a gap to fill in central defence.
Normally it would be Mario Yepes, but he and Cristian Zapata were on international duty with Colombia in midweek and did not return until Friday, leaving little turnaround time between that and the game on Saturday.
As well as Bonera, who will be out for around a month, Milan also miss Ignazio Abate and Luca Antonini with hamstring injuries.
If there is one man Napoli cannot afford to miss, it is Edinson Cavani. Such has been his recent form that there are questions over whether the team is too reliant on him, questions that sporting director Riccardo Bigon addressed this week.
“The squad is competitive. There are two players to each role, some are prospects and others are more experienced, therefore we do not need a vice-Cavani.”
Regardless, they are a considerably weaker side without him, and there does not appear to be a clear alternative for when he is not available. Fortunately for them he is fit and at Coach Walter Mazzarri's disposal for Saturday. In fact they have a relatively clean bill of health, with only Goran Pandev a slight doubt with an ankle injury and Valon Behrami serving a suspension.
Keep an eye on: Edinson Cavani (Napoli) - Probably the most in-form player from either side. Cavani received a rare 10 rating in Gazzetta's Pagelle last week for the poker he scored in the Europa League against Dnipro. And El Matador also proved to be the difference against Genoa last Sunday.
Form guide: Napoli (L W L D W) Milan (L W D W L)
Last season: Napoli 3-1 Milan
Stat fact: Milan have won just once at the San Paolo since Napoli were promoted back to Serie A in 2007.
Napoli (probable): De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Gamberini; Maggio, Inler, Dzemaili, Zuniga; Hamsik; Insigne, Cavani
Milan (probable): Abbiati; De Sciglio, Mexes, Yepes, Constant; Montolivo, Emanuelson, Nocerino; Bojan, Pazzini, El Shaarawy
Football-Italia.net
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Originally Posted by artan
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