Last month Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri expressed his lofty desire to revive the glory days of the past for the Partenopei and construct a team that can challenge for the Scudetto. That might be pushing it a bit too far but there can be no doubt that the former Italian champions can finish in a Champions League position this campaign.
Currently placed fourth in the table with 24 points from 14 matches, Napoli are nine points off the pace but with a game in hand. Encouragingly, the Azzurri are a point ahead of Italian and European champions Inter, and with other candidates for a top four finish suffering from inconsistency, Napoli are very much in contention.
However, the former Italian champions have to maintain the momentum and not drop unnecessary points. Last weekend they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Udinese in Udine but recovered in midweek when they came from behind to hold Utrecht to a 3-3 draw in the Netherlands in the Europa League.
Napoli have won four of their last six Serie A fixtures and have won half of their matches at the San Paolo. The 1989 UEFA Cup winners have a mixed result against the country's bigger clubs as they have won against Sampdoria and Roma but lost to Milan and Lazio.
Champions League Ambition
Palermo are one of the most entertaining sides to watch anywhere in Europe and although they lost some important players in the summer and struggled at the start of the season, they have steadied themselves and are back in the race to finish in the top four in Serie A.
At the moment Delio Rossi's side are fifth in the league standings with 23 points from 14 matches and are just a point behind Napoli. Victory in Naples tonight will propel them to fourth spot and place them just a point behind former Italian champions Juventus.
Palermo have an intriguing away form too in the championship this campaign as they have won thrice and lost thrice away from the Renzo Barbera, scoring 11 goals and conceding as many in the process. The Rosanero won their last match on the road, defeating Cesena 2-1.
Last weekend the Aquile beat Roma 3-1 in Palermo exhibiting some lovely football but failed to register a victory in midweek against Sparta Prague in the Europa League as they were held to a 2-2 draw.
TEAM NEWS
Napoli
Cristiano Lucarelli and Matteo Gianello are injured and will miss tonight's clash. Walter Mazzarri will deploy a 3-4-2-1 formation that will see Ezequiel Lavezzi start as the lone striker upfront with Edinson Cavani and Marek Hamsik just behind him. The two playmakers will be supported by a four-man midfield with Walter Gargano and Michele Pazienza as the two central midfielders.
Palermo
Abel Hernandez and Matteo Darmian are out because of injuries and Armin Bacinovic is suspended. Delio Rossi will field a 4-3-2-1 system that will have Fabrizio Miccoli as the lone striker up front. Javier Pastore and Josip Ilicic will be the two playmakers behind him and they will be supported by Giulio Migliaccio, Antonio Nocerino and Nicola Rigoni.
Prediction
This could potentially be the most entertaining game of football this week as both Napoli and Palermo are very much committed to attacking football and play with promising youngsters. The Neapolitans will be the favourites since the match is in Naples but their propensity to concede far too many goals than they should could force them to drop two points.
Napoli 2-2 Palermo 
