Is Gonzalo Higuain Benitez’s new Milan Baros?

Having spent the third largest amount of money in France’s transfer window, Marseille started the season brightly.  Unfortunately for them, the pastis-guzzling, bouillabaisse-supping cohort have started to struggle.  Recent defeats have come to Paris Saint-Germain and Nice.  The PSG was marked with embarrassment, as PSG were able to win despite having been reduced to ten men in the first-half. Against Nice at the weekend, they lost 1-0, which was their third defeat in a row, having also lost to Dortmund in the Champions League in the last gameweek.

Now, Marseille are a fairly combustible sort, ready for in-fighting at the drop of a chapeau, and short-sighted enough to do things like signing Joey Barton.  So, the question is, will they prove enough of a threat to Napoli when they play at the Stade Velodrome?

Mario Balotelli Missing His Penalty Against Napoli

Napoli, for their part, have been inconsistent.  They beat AC Milan, managing to make Mario Balotelli finally miss a penalty (by telling a ‘your mum’ joke), yet drew at home to Sassuolo.  They beat Genoa away from home, and then managed to lose to Roma.  Given Rafa Benitez’s numerous signings in the summer, it appears that it is not yet sure just how the club are capable of playing well regularly.  Given some of Benitez’s performance at Liverpool, it is fair to wonder if he’s actually capable of performing well regularly, too.

Now, there are rumours that this is because Benitez has started calling all the players at Napoli by the names of the players he had at Liverpool.  Marek ‘Steven Gerrard’ Hamsik has even had to so far as to tattoo his name on his forehead in protest.  Gonzalo ‘Milan Baros’ Higuain is so annoyed he is pretending to be injured.  It is not confirmed whether or not Benitez’s apology will do enough to get him fit for Tuesday’s match.

For all that, though, let’s not forget Benitez’s qualities.  Wherever he’s been, Inter Milan aside, he’s always been able to impress in the Champions League.  With Liverpool, he was able to take apart sides like AC Milan and Real Madrid, mentally as well as tactically.  Coming up against a side that is struggling, like Marseille are, should mean that Napoli will expect to secure victory.

Marseille, though, are not out of the competition just yet. They have lost their first two games against Dortmund and Arsenal, and comfortably, but they have plenty of players who can threaten.  Although Andre-Pierre Gignac has waned lately, his start to the season was impressive, and Andre Ayew was only a post width away from scoring at the weekend.  With Pepe Reina, whose mistakes at Liverpool became ever more frequent, in goal, there is every chance that they could cause trouble.

One thing that is far more interesting, though, is the fans.  Given the almost limitless ability for both sets of fans to gift members of the opposition’s supporters various injuries, it might be far more entertaining to watch what goes on around the stands, rather than watch more dull football from Benitez.  In fact, if you’re watching Benitez, it’s often much more interesting not to hit someone else, but to hit yourself in the face to provide any kind of distraction.