Napoli take on Udinese at the Stadio San Paolo in Naples tonight in what is one of the biggest games of the Serie A season so far.
Udinese are flying high at the moment and are unbeaten in the league while the home side have struggled to get going domestically since their thrashing of Inter at the San Siro.
The Partenopei were outstanding last season and their wonderful attacking football earned them plaudits all over Europe but it was not enough to secure a first Serie A title in decades as they eventually fell to a strong Milan side.
This season though it is very different as they struggle to cope with the demands of both Champions League football and maintaning a challenge in Serie A.
The visitors though have had no such problems. They have not lost a game yet in the league, are looking extremely comfortable to qualify from their Europa League group and, should they pick up a point in Naples they will move back to the top of the table with Juventus sitting just one point ahead of Francesco Guidolin’s side at the moment.
Napoli are by no means out of the title race but have suffered a stuttering start and will be hoping to return to form with a win tonight against the Zebrette. In fact, should they secure that victory, they will move to within one point of Udinese. It may still be early, but this is a massive indication of just how close things are going to be in Italy this season.
Revenge may just be the key word in Walter Mazzarri’s team talk tonight as twice last season the Friulani beat his side with the game in Naples towards the end of the campaign effectively ending Napoli’s title charge. The man who scored the opener for the away team, Gokhan Inler, is lining up for the Azzurri tonight and will be doing all in his power to ensure his former employers do not leave the southern city with all three points once more.
In the build up to this game, all concerned with Udinese have played down their side’s chances of mounting a serious title challenge but if they can win tonight’s eagerly anticipated match then they will not be able to prevent people discussing them as genuine contenders.
Should Napoi win though they will see this as a massive victory over an in-form side and one which move them back into the title mix. It certainly is poised to be an enjoyable game between two sides who love to attack and hate to lose.
Follow Padraig Whelan on Twitter: @PWhelan88 and be sure to check out his blog here.
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