Posted on Sunday, 5th February 2012 by Sumeet Paul

will be hoping to bounce back from their defeat at Lazio in mid-week, as they welcome a struggling to the San Siro. Originally arranged for Sunday night, the fixture was brought forward due to weather concerns. Sulley Muntari, Alexander Merkel, Alexandre Pato, Kevin Prince Boateng, Alberto Aquilani, Gennaro Gattuso, Mario Yepes, Mathieu Flamini and Antonio Cassano are all sidelined through injury.  The Rossoneri will know this is a must-win game as they attempt to keep  pace with leaders Juventus, who lead by a solitary point but with a game in hand. However, their record against the top seven sides this season has been abysmal, and lost the reverse fixture 3-1 in Naples.

Paolo Cannavaro has been passed fit for Sunday’s clash, as Napoli look to put a winless streak stretching four games behind them. The Partenopei are now 14 points behind Juventus, having played an extra game, while they are six points off the pace of a place in Europe next season. With President Aurelio De Laurentiis releasing a ‘dossier’ blaming the standard of refereeing in their last few games, others have criticised Walter Mazzarri’s inability to change tactically. With both sides chasing victory, it will undoubtedly be a tense affair.

Probable Line-ups:

Milan (4-3-1-2): Abbiati, Abate, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta, Emanuelson, Ambrosini, Nocerino, Robinho, El Shaarawy, Ibrahimovic

Subs; Amelia, Bonera, Antonini, Van Bommel, Mexes, Seedorf, Maxi Lopez

Napoli (3-4-2-1): De Sanctis, Campagnaro, Aronica, Britos, Maggio, Gargano, Inler, Dossena, Pandev, Hamsik, Cavani

Subs; Rosati, Zuniga, Fernandez, Donadel, Dzemaili, Lavezzi, Vargas

Form Guide:

Milan: LWWLW

08/01/12 – Atalanta 0-2 Milan

15/01/12 – Milan 0-1 Inter

22/01/12 – Novara 0-3 Milan

29/01/12 – Milan 3-0 Cagliari

01/02/12 – Lazio 2-0 Milan

Napoli: DLDDW

08/01/12 – Palermo 1-3 Napoli

16/01/12 – Napoli 1-1 Bologna

22/01/12 – Siena 1-1 Napoli

29/01/12 – Genoa 3-2 Napoli

01/02/12 – Napoli 0-0 Cesena

Top Scorers:

Milan;

Ibrahimovic – 15

Nocerino – 7

Napoli;

Cavani – 12

Hamsik – 6

Assists:

Milan;

Aquilani – 7

Cassano – 6

Napoli;

Hamsik – 6

Maggio – 5

Head-to-Head:

18/09/11 – Napoli 3-1 Milan

28/02/11 – Milan 3-0 Napoli

25/10/10 – Napoli 1-2 Milan

21/03/10 – Milan 1-1 Napoli

28/10/09 – Napoli 2-2 Milan