Napoli welcome Cesena at the Stadio San Paolo in Serie A on Monday evening, in a must-win match for the Partenopei’s claim to the Champions League qualifying spot.
In the reverse fixture back in January, Napoli routed Cesena 4-1. With Lazio three points ahead of them and playing on Friday — against Sampdoria — Napoli will look to match that performance in order to keep pace and maybe even close the gap on the Aquile.
Napoli stand in good stead to do just that, being unbeaten in Serie A (18 wins and seven draws) against the already relegated Cesena.
Furthermore, Rafael Benitez’s side remains unbeaten in the last eight Serie A games (six wins and two draws) whilst Cesena are winless in their last 10 (five draws and five losses)
Although Napoli look overwhelming favourites for his match, anything less than the three points will not be tolerated.
To that effect, Napoli will have to be wary of Cesena who — despite their league position — are a side capable of scoring goals. Cesena’s last four games have seen them score, Franco Brienza and Gregoire Defrel providing eight and seven goals respectively this season.
With a midweek Europa League exit and penultimate games for the final Champions League spot coming up for Napoli, against Juventus and Lazio, Cesena will be keen to prey on that pressure of the result to take one last scalp on their way out of Serie A.
Rafael Benitez will have all his best players available, including Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Callejon who had both scored in the reverse fixture. Lorenzo Insigne is likely to be the third to complete the attacking trio. Michu will be unavailable, whilst Juan Carlos Zuniga and Jonathan De Guzman are still to be evaluated.
As for Domeninco Di Carlo’s side, Guido Marilungo, Nico Pulzetti and Luigi Giorgi remain sidelined for the match. Top-scorers Defrel and Brienza are touted to start, with Daniele Capelli (who had scored an own-goal in the reverse fixture) due to retain his place in defence.
Form Guide: Napoli (D-W-L-W-W-W) Cesena (L-L-D-L-D-L)
Expected Starting XIs
Napoli: Andujar; Maggio, Albiol, Britos, Ghoulam; D. Lopez, Jorginho; Callejon, Hamsik, Insigne; Higuain.
Cesena: Agliardi; Perico, Capelli, Krajnc, Renzetti; Carbonero, Mudingayi, Cascione; Brienza; Defrel, Djuric.
