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Napoli logo
Serie A
May 3, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Milan logo

3-0

Hamsik (70'), Higuain (74'), Gabbiadini (76')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview: Napoli vs. AC Milan

Sports Mole looks ahead to this Sunday's Serie A match between Napoli and AC Milan.

Napoli will be looking to boost their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League when they welcome AC Milan to the Stadio San Paolo on Sunday evening.

The Azzurri need a win to keep the pressure on their rivals for a top-three spot, while Milan are in crisis and heading for another season without European football altogether.



Napoli

Napoli coach Rafael Benitez prior to kick-off during the Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund on September 18, 2013© AFP

Napoli had gone into their match against Empoli on Thursday evening after winning their three previous games in the league to close the gap on Roma and Lazio in the race for the final Champions League spot.

However, their defensive frailties returned to haunt them, as they suffered a shock 4-2 defeat at the Stadio Carlo Castellani to seriously damage their hopes of getting into the top three.

They are now five points behind Roma in the Serie A table and cannot afford to drop any more points in their remaining five games of the season.

Two of those fixtures are against already-relegated Parma and struggling Cesena, but they will then travel to champions Juventus in their penultimate game of the season, ahead of a final-day clash against Lazio.

That defeat at Empoli was a damaging blow after a period in which they seemed to have returned to form and came just days after a thumping 4-2 win against Sampdoria, in which they played some of their best attacking football of the season.

As has been the case so often this campaign, their problems at the back have cost them dearly and they have conceded 43 goals in the league, keeping just eight clean sheets, which is as many as bottom-of-the-table Parma.

It now seems that their only way to get into the Champions League next season is to win the Europa League, and they will play the first leg of their semi-final against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in Naples next Thursday.

Recent form in Serie A: DLWWWL
Recent form (all competitions): WWWDWL



AC Milan

AC Milan's coach Filippo Inzaghi gives instructions to his players during a Champions Cup match against Manchester City at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on July 27, 2014© Getty Images

A disappointing season for AC Milan sunk to a new low on Wednesday evening when they fell to a humiliating 3-1 defeat at home to Genoa.

They produced another abject defensive performance and offered very little in attack and it was no surprise that they were booed off by the supporters at San Siro when the final whistle was blown.

There were estimated to be just 15,000 people in attendance at the stadium and at one point thousands of those who did show up spelled out the words enough in a human protest banner in the stands.

It only served to heighten the intense speculation that Filippo Inzaghi has been coming under in recent months, but he has insisted that he will not resign from his position, although subsequent reports have indicated that Cristian Brocchi is being lined up to replace him.

The immediate focus for Inzaghi will be making sure that Milan can secure a finish in the top half of the table and prevent the club from achieving their worst position in the league for nearly 20 years.

Recent form: WWDDLL



Team News

Napoli's Lorenzo Insigne scores the opening goal against Fiorentina during the Coppa Italia Cup final on May 3, 2014© AFP

Napoli will have to make do without Jonathan de Guzman, Ivan Strinic and Juan Zuniga through injury, while long-term absentee Michu is still out.

With their Europa League match against Dnipro to come, Rafael Benitez is expected to make changes, so the likes of Lorenzo Insigne and David Lopez could return to the starting lineup.

Meanwhile, Milan have been dealt a triple blow, as Jeremy Menez, Philippe Mexes and Ignazio Abate are all suspended.

Menez's absence means that Mattia Destro is likely to take his place in the attack, while Alex should come into the back four.

Napoli possible starting lineup:
Andujar, Maggio, Albiol, Britos, Ghoulam, Inler, Lopez, Callejon, Insigne, Hamsik, Higuain

AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Lopez, De Sciglio, Rami, Alex, Bonera, Poli, De Jong, Van Ginkel, Honda, Destro, Bonaventura



Head To Head

It was Milan who came out on top when these teams met in December, as goals from Menez and Giacomo Bonaventura helped them to claim a 2-0 victory at San Siro.

That victory was the first for the Rossoneri in seven games against Napoli, although three of those fixtures have ended in draws.

There is usually plenty of action whenever these teams meet, as there have been 15 goals in the previous five games between them.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Napoli 3-1 AC Milan

Napoli will be desperate to bounce back with a victory after their poor performance against Empoli, as their hopes of finishing in the top three hang by a thread. Milan also need to show a positive response to the heavy criticism that they have been subjected to this season, but we feel that it will be another day to forget for Inzaghi, which is why we are backing the hosts to claim all the points.



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Written by
Alex Meyers
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AC Milan's midfielder from Spain Suso (R) fights for the ball with Inter Milan's forward from Argentina Rodrigo Palacio (L) during the Italian Serie A football match Inter Milan vs AC Milan at the San Siro Stadium in Milan on April 19, 2015
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atalanta BCAtalanta16121339172237
2Napoli16112324111335
3Inter Milan1494134151931
4Fiorentina1494128101831
5Lazio15101430171331
6Juventus16610026121428
7AC Milan146442416822
8Bologna145722018222
9Udinese166281925-620
10Empoli164751416-219
11Torino165471720-319
12Roma154471821-316
13Parma153662125-415
14Genoa153661324-1115
15CagliariCagliari163581526-1114
16Lecce15348826-1813
17Como152671628-1212
18Hellas VeronaHellas Verona1540111837-1912
19Monza151771319-610
20VeneziaVenezia1624101529-1410


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