Saturday April 23rd 2011, 2pm GMT
It had been a long time since Udinese won at the Stadio San Paolo, and very few expected them to do so last Sunday. The visitors made the journey south without their two most potent attacking players, and on the back of two straight defeats. When they did produce a surprise win, the result all but ended second-placed Napoli’s title hopes for this season.
Napoli had won four in a row before the Udinese game following the return of Ezequiel Lavezzi from a three-game suspension. Lavezzi and top scorer Edinson Cavani both laboured hard in last week’s game, but struggled to create chances. Saturday’s game will see Cavani return to the Stadio Renzo Barbera for the first time since he left Palermo last Summer. Lavezzi will miss the game due to suspension, as will defender and team captain Paolo Cannavaro. Palermo defender Dorin Goian is also suspended.
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| Which Uruguayan striker will shine on Saturday - Hernandez or Cavani? |
Palermo halted a poor run of form last week when they beat Roma 3-2 in a thrilling encounter at the Stadio Olimpico. Abel Hernandez scored two, and the young prospect’s pace could well be a worry for the Napoli defenders on Saturday. Javier Pastore has also shown signs of a return to form in his last couple of games. The win in the capital was coach Delio Rossi’s first game back in charge of Palermo, and he also secured a respectable 2-2 draw at AC Milan on Wednesday in the first leg of their cup semi-final.
Had this fixture taken place a couple of weeks ago, a routine win for Napoli would have been on the cards. Rossi’s return appears to have reinvigorated the Palermo players however, and they have enough talent in their squad to pose Napoli a few problems. Napoli may struggle without the creative influence of Lavezzi, but I am confident that this fixture will produce a few goals.
Prediction – over 2.5 goals – 3pts
Match odds: Palermo 9/4
Draw 2/1
Napoli 5/4
Over 2.5 goals 10/11
Palermo: Last 5 Serie A Results
16.04.2011 – Roma 2-3 Palermo
10.04.2011 – Palermo 2-2 Cesena
03.04.2011 – Catania 3-0 Palermo
19.03.2011 – Palermo 1-0 AC Milan
13.03.2011 – Genoa 1-0 Palermo
Napoli: Last 5 Serie A Results
17.04.2011 – Napoli 1-2 Udinese
10.04.2011 – Bologna 0-2 Napoli
03.04.2011 – Napoli 4-3 Lazio
20.03.2011 – Napoli 2-1 Cagliari
13.03.2011 – Parma 1-3 Napoli
