Napoli have even fewer forward options than usual and host an Inter side on the way back up the standings in a massive Friday match.
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This was meant to be one of the Scudetto tussles in the fixture list, but so far this season has not been kind for either club. The Partenopei have struggled since Arkadiusz Milik’s knee injury on international duty and can’t even use Dries Mertens as a False 9 this time around because he picked up an entirely avoidable ban. It means Manolo Gabbiadini has to deliver as a centre-forward or they will be in serious trouble.
Inter parted company with Roberto Mancini two weeks before the campaign began, then sacked Frank de Boer 84 days into his tenure before spending a week under caretaker manager Stefano Vecchi. Now Stefano Pioli has the job and he celebrated his first victory, a very hard-fought 4-2 over Fiorentina. It was considerably tougher than it should’ve been, as the Nerazzurri seemed home and dry when going 3-0 up within 19 minutes, but risked throwing it all away against 10 men.
Second half capitulations are becoming a common theme for Inter, as last week they also fumbled a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 at Hapoel Be’er-Sheva, ending their Europa League chances. Napoli are forced to consider the upcoming Champions League trip to Benfica, because they need at least a point there to be sure of making it to the Round of 16, having failed to win any of the last three games.
Maurizio Sarri has simply not found a solution to the striker crisis and his options are whittled down to just one against Inter. Mertens is suspended, Milik injured, so Gabbiadini is the only real candidate to spearhead the trident attack. Curiously, Gabbiadini had been heavily linked with a move to Inter when Mancini was still at the helm. Things might’ve been very different now if Napoli had accepted that offer.
Mauro Icardi is the man Napoli tried to sign for €65m, but Inter rejected all proposals for the Argentine hitman, who arguably would’ve made the ideal replacement for Gonzalo Higuain. Now he can hurt the San Paolo faithful even more by scoring here and landing another blow to their already-struggling campaign.
Lorenzo Insigne or even Jose Callejon could be used in the False 9 role, bringing under-used summer signing Emanuele Giaccherini into the side, but that would be a huge slap in the face for Gabbiadini, whose confidence is already rock bottom.
Gary Medel and Davide Santon look set to miss out again for Inter, but Jeison Murillo will try to win his place back in central defence after being usurped by Andrea Ranocchia. Ever Banega hasn’t entirely convinced Pioli, but Ivan Perisic and Antonio Candreva are increasingly decisive figures on the wings.
Pioli has lost his last two meetings with Napoli, including a 5-0 thrashing here last season, but his name will forever give the Partenopei nightmares. He was on the bench when Lazio won 4-2 at the San Paolo in the final round of the 2014-15 campaign, sending the Aquile into the Champions League preliminary round at the expense of the Azzurri. That same season, Lazio knocked Napoli out of the Coppa Italia semi-finals with a 1-0 win here.
Keep an eye on: Mauro Icardi (Inter) – He was the man who almost joined Napoli and kept everyone guessing for weeks over the summer, so it’ll be interesting to see what reception he gets at the Stadio San Paolo. Above all, he’s responsible for more goals than any other player in Serie A this season, scoring 12 and providing four assists. That means there are only six of Inter’s total 22 goals this season that he did not participate in.
Form Guide: Napoli (D W D L W) Inter (W D W L W)
Last season: Napoli 0-2 Inter
Stat fact: Inter have won both their last meetings with Napoli, home and away in all competition, by 2-0 scorelines. However, the Nerazzurri haven’t conquered the San Paolo in Serie A since another 2-0 result in October 1997, managing only three draws and seven defeats.
Top tip: Inter can sneak this, as Napoli are distracted by Europe and toothless in attack.
Napoli (probable): Reina; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Allan, Diawara, Hamsik; Callejon, Gabbiadini, Insigne
Suspended: Mertens
Inter (probable): Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, Miranda, Murillo, Ansaldi; Joao Mario, Brozovic, Kondogbia; Candreva, Icardi, Perisic
Suspended: None
Prediction : 2-1 Napoli Win
