Napoli vs AC Milan preview

May 2, 2015
By: Nemanja Lazarevic

Milan vs NapoliNapoli missed a great opportunity to keep their Champions League hopes alive with a heavy defeat to Empoli, and it remains to be seen if they can produce an instant response.

AC Milan, on the other hand, slipped to tenth after yet another home loss, meaning this will be a match between two sides very low on confidence.

For two years now, Napoli have been hoping to mount a serious title challenge in Italian Serie A, but while they at least qualified for the Champions League last term, a top 3 finish is no longer a realistic goal.

The Azzurri overcame a very difficult period and closed the gap behind third-placed Roma to just two points, but they then ruined everything they worked for with a 4-2 loss to Empoli.

With the gap behind the Giallorossi now huge five points, it looks as though Napoli will not be finishing in top 3 for the third successive season.

The Azzurri can still qualify for the Champions League if they win Europa League, with first leg of the semi-final clash against Dnipro taking place four days after the AC Milan game.

This means that Rafa Benitez could decide to rest some key men against the Rossoneri, but Napoli remain 1.57 (4/7) favourites to claim maximum points.

Juan Camilo Zuniga, Jonathan De Guzman, Ivan Strinic and Michu are out injured, but David Lopez and Raul Albiol should be recalled.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Andujar – Mesto, Henrique, Albiol, Ghoulam – Lopez, Jorginho – Mertens, Insigne, Gabbiadini – Zapata.

This season is proving that appointing inexperienced coaches to take charge of Europe’s top sides is rarely a good decision, with Pippo Inzaghi unlikely to survive the current campaign.

Despite the numerous selection worries, the former Italy striker should have done better with the quality at his disposal, with AC Milan now in danger of finishing the season in the bottom half of the standings.

Having taken just two points from last four fixtures, the Rossoneri are no longer in the race for European positions, and they head into the Napoli game in poor spirits.

After losing to Udinese on the road, AC Milan were beaten at home by high-flying Genoa, and they now face another difficult game.

The Rossoneri may be priced at 7.00 (6/1) to win at Stadio San Paolo, but such long odds clearly suggest their chances of winning are slim to none.

There have been more bad news for coach Pippo Inzaghi seeing as Jeremy Menez, Ignazio Abate and Philippe Mexes are suspended, while Riccardo Montolivo and Stephan El Shaarawy are nearing the return.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Lopez – Rami, Zapata, Bochetti, De Sciglio – van Ginkel, de Jong, Bonaventura – Honda, Pazzini, Cerci.

We Highly Recommend These Places
Share your Opinion!