Tuesday, March 20, 2012

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21.03. (Wed) 20:45 Napoli - Siena

Reginaldo-Aronica - Siena-Napoli - Coppa Italia (Getty Images)
Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

NAPOLI


De Sanctis
Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica
Maggio, Gargano, Inler, Zuniga
Hamsik, Lavezzi
Cavani
SIENA


Pegolo
Vitiello, Terzi, Rossettini, Del Grosso
Giorgi, Vergassola, Gazzi, Brienza
Gonzalez, Bogdani
Napoli have just one definite absentee in Marco Donadel, who is still around a month away from making a comeback, but coach Walter Mazzarri is set to name a full-strength side for the visit of the Coppa Italia semi-finalists.
Salvatore Aronica, Christian Maggio, Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi all missed the 2-2 draw with Udinese at the weekend, but should start on Wednesday in place of Miguel Britos, Andrea Dossena, Blerim Dzemaili and Goran Pandev.
Meanwhile, Siena are set to name an unchanged XI from Sunday's 2-0 home defeat to Novara. Claudio Terzi's yellow card against Attilio Tesser's side means he has accumulated a one-match ban, but he will still be eligible for the cup contest.
DID YOU KNOW?
  • Napoli had won six on the bounce, but have not won their last two games, losing to Chelsea in the Champions League and drawing with Udinese in Serie at the weekend. 
  • Ironically, their last defeat before the recent winning spree came against Siena in the first-leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final tie.
  • Napoli have lost all six of their previous away matches in the cup, dating back to 2006.
  • Prior to Sunday's 2-0 loss to Novara, Siena had won three consecutive matches, including keeping two clean sheets.
  • The Bianconeri have the upper hand in 10 previous meetings with Napoli, winning four of them compared to their opponents' three.
  • Interestingly, neither side have not scored more than two goals against each other.
Prediction
Despite their 2-1 deficit, Napoli should find the two goals without reply to put them through to the final of the Coppa Italia at the expense of Siena, who will be weakened without the vision and playmaking talents of Gaetano D'Agostino and the goals of Emanuele Calaio in their XI.
Editor's Prediction
Napoli 2-0 Siena