Napoli vs Inter preview

February 25, 2012
By: Matthew Clarke

Looking at the teams’ current form, one would think home win is the only possible outcome, but football is not that simple and that is exactly what makes it a beautiful game.

Napoli had a really slow start to the season, making many people start to doubt their chances this term.

However, as the season progressed the Partenopei kept raising their form and they appear to be on top of their game at the moment.

The Azzurri kept their top 3 hopes alive with back to back wins over Fiorentina and Chievo, but it was the scintillating display and the 3-1 win over Chelsea in the Champions League that was seen as a major confidence boost.

Walter Mazzarri’s side are brimming with confidence after the three-match winning run and are set to face out-of-form Inter, and no wonder Ladbrokes pays just 1.90 (9/10) on home win.

Marek Hamsik misses out through suspension with Goran Pandev expected to deputize, whereas Hugo Campagnaro could be rested after suffering several minor injuries in quick succession.

Probable starting line-up (3-4-2-1): De Sanctis – Grava, Cannavaro, Aronica – Maggio, Inler, Gargano, Dossena – Lavezzi, Pandev – Cavani.

Inter were absolutely pathetic in the opening stage of the season, but the Neroazzurri then showed a lot of improvement under Claudio Ranieri.

It was the 2-0 Coppa Italia defeat to Napoli that ended their eight-match winning run and the team have been unable to return to the right track ever since.

Inter went on to pick up just one point from next five league games, thus slipping to 7th in Serie A, while they were also beaten by Marseille in Champions League last 16 phase first leg at Velodrome.

The dismal run of results saw Claudio Ranieri’s position at the club come under intense scrutiny, but the experienced tactician should be given few more games to turn things around.

Inter desperately need a victory at San Paolo, but it is not by mistake that BetVictor pays 4.60 (18/5) on away win.

Striker Luc Castaignos starts a three-match ban for spitting an opponent, whereas Fredy Guarin, Douglas Maicon and Andrea Ranocchia miss out through injury.

Ricky Alvarez and Matteo Faraoni are doubtful, but Diego Milito and Giampaolo Pazzini should return to the starting line-up.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-1-2): Julio Cesar – Nagatomo, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu – Zanetti, Poli, Cambiasso – Sneijder – Milito, Pazzini.

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