Napoli vs. AC Milan San Paolo, Naples 2:45 EST Wednesday October 28, 2009
By Jason Green at Predictem.com
On Wednesday evening AC Milan looks to extend their solid play at the hands of Napoli in the Italian Serie A. Napoli is in 10th position in the Italian Serie A table while Ac Milan is in 6th place with their recent run. Milan was in trouble, big time, come a couple of weeks back, but what may have turned their season around is their win at Real Madrid in Champions League play.
Napoli is on a resurgence of their own, as new manager Aurelio De Laurentiis seems have been doing the trick since they have played solid since his appointment. They have won their last 2 league matches including a great 1-0 win at Fiorentina in their last match. They are within points of the top 4, ergo a Champions League automatic berth, and their new tactical system has seemed to work to a T.
The home field advantage should be huge, as Napoli always plays well at home and they have not lost to Milan there since 1998. However, Milan is on a hot streak and they may be returning to form after a poor star to the season. In their last 3 matches they have scored 7 goals after scoring only 6 in the first part of the league season, but if the league they still have a negative goal differential. Napoli will be facing a Milan squad that is full of confidence and is starting to score goals.
Currently Milan is in 6th place in the Italian Serie A League with 15 points while Napoli is in 10th place with 13 points. There are many matches to play but this one is still important to both, who look to move up in the league table.
Napoli is the home underdog in this match posted at 2.80 with AC Milan as the away favorite posted at 2.50 with a draw at 3.10.
Napoli Recent Form:
10/25/2009 Fiorentina 0 Napoli 1 (Serie A)
10/18/2009 Napoli 2 Bologna 1 (Serie A)
10/4/2009 AS Roma 2 Napoli 1 (Serie A)
9/27/2009 Napoli 2 Siena 1 (Serie A)
9/23/2009 Inter Milan 3 Napoli 1 (Serie A)
AC Milan Recent Form:
10/25/2009 Chievo Verona 1 AC Milan 2 (Serie A)
10/21/2009 Real Madrid 2 AC Milan 3 (Champions League)
10/18/2009 AC Milan 2 AS Roma 1 (Serie A)
10/4/2009 AC Milan 1 Atalanta 1 (Serie A)
9/30/2009 AC Milan 0 FC Zurich 1 (Champions League)
For Napoli Juan Zuniga is out with a muscle injury and so in Fabiano Santacroce. However, both Paulo Cannavaro and Fabiano Santacroce will return to the lineup for this match. Matteo Contini is suspended for this match after getting a red card in his last match.
For AC Milan they are not fully healthy, as both Marek Jankulovski and Ignazio Abate are out for this match and long-term injuries for the squad include Marco Storari, Oguchi Onyewu, Daniele Bonera and Davide Di Gennaro.
Napoli has to deal with a Milan squad that is playing with confidence after struggling to begin the season. Beating Real Madrid may have done wonders for Milan, as if they can build on that victory they will be tough to beat.
Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho has played like ha did a few years back when he was the best player in the world and if he controls the midfield in this match and gets through the defense Napoli will be in big trouble.
Napoli’s Ezequiel Lavezzi has the speed to cause Milan problems and he will have to do so in this match to give the home squad some offense.
The Rossoneri’s defense has had major problems this season and if they shore it up and play solid they have a great chance to win this match.
Pato finally scored in a big match in Madrid and he will be counted on again for more offense and he needs to deliver for the away squad.
Jason’s Pick: I am not going to lie, as I do not like AC Milan, since I am a huge Inter fan, but AC is on fire lately and they are beginning to score. I think Ronaldinho and Pato will give Milan too much offense for Napoleon to handle, as I see Milan winning by a score of 2-1 of 3-1.
