Friday, December 2, 2011

| by

0

03.12. (Sat) 20:45 Napoli - Lecce

Marek Hamsik - Napoli-Lecce - Serie A (Getty Images)

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
NAPOLI

De Sanctis
Fernandez, Aronica, Fideleff
Maggio, Dzemaili, Inler, Dossena
Santana, Pandev
Lavezzi
LECCE

Benassi
Oddo, Ferrario, Tomovic, Esposito, Mesbah
Strasser, Grossmuller, Obodo
Pasquato, Muriel
Unsurprisingly, coach Walter Mazzarri has his eyes firmly set on Tuesday's crunch Champions League encounter against Villarreal, and therefore it is likely he will field a much-changed XI on Saturday. An estimated six alterations should take effect from the side that drew 3-3 with Juventus on Wednesday.
Key performers Paolo Cannavaro, Hugo Campagnaro, Juan Zuniga, Walter Gargano, Marek Hamsik and Edinson Cavani are all likely to be sacrificed in favour of Federico Fernandez, Ignacio Fideleff, Andrea Dossena, Blerim Dzemaili and Mario Santana. Ezequiel Lavezzi is also set to lead the line, with his fellow countryman Santana ready to take the reins alongside midweek hero Goran Pandev in the hole.
Meanwhile for the visitors, they too are lining up several alterations from the disappointing 1-0 loss to Catania last week. Out of the side go Davide Brivio, Juan Cuadrado, Andrea Bertolacci and the injured Ruben Olivera, with Stefano Ferrario, Djamel Mesbah, Carlos Grossmuller and Cristian Pasquato coming in. A tactical switch to a 5-3-2 formation is also expected.
However, there isn't such luck for Edward Ofere, Guillermo Giacomazzi, Moris Carrozzieri, Souleymane Diamoutene and David Di Michele, who all face further spells on the treatment table
DID YOU KNOW?

  • Napoli have won just two of their last eight league meetings against Lecce.
  • However, Walter Mazzarri's men have always registered a Serie A goal against Lecce on home soil.
  • The hosts have drawn their last three matches, and are winless in their last four in the league.
  • At the San Paolo, Napoli have lost just one of their last eight league games, but have won just three.
  • Lecce have scored only nine Serie A goals so far this season; only Cesena, with six, have scored fewer.
  • Eusebio Di Francesco's side also have the worst goal difference, with -10.
  • Seven of Lecce's eight points have been collected away from home thus far.
Prediction
Napoli should prevail and finish the weekend with three more points to their name, but not without a fight as an experimental line-up is in the offing. However, with Lecce looking likely to take a defensive mindset to the San Paolo, the home side should have enough to edge the points.
Editor's Prediction
Napoli 1-0 Lecce