Napoli to get angry in bid to catch Juventus

MILAN (AFP) –

Juve finally opened up a three-point gap at the top of Serie A table, after defeating Napoli last week, 2-0

Juventus’ Sebastian Giovinco (R) fights for the ball with Napoli‘s defender Valon Behrami during their Serie A match on October 20, at the Alps stadium in Turin. Title contenders Napoli said the anger of last week’s defeat to Juventus will be used to relaunch their bid to stay in touch with the champions on Saturday when they host struggling Chievo.

Serie A contenders Napoli said the anger of last week’s defeat to Juventus will be used to relaunch their bid to stay in touch with the champions on Saturday when they host struggling Chievo.

Until last week Napoli, arguably one of the flair teams of the season in Italy so far this campaign, had been the only other team along with Juventus to stay unbeaten.

However it was a comparatively tame Napoli side that turned up at Juventus Stadium, and they paid for their lack of bite with a 2-0 defeat that allowed Juve to finally open up a three-point gap at the top of the table.

On paper, Walter Mazzarri’s side, which boasts the goalscoring talents of the league’s top scorer Edinson Cavani and fellow forwards Marek Hamsik and Goran Pandev, look too strong for visiting Chievo.

Although they have not dominated the Verona side in recent seasons they won the corresponding fixture 2-0 last year although they will head into the match on the back of a 3-1 Europa League loss to Dnipropetrovsk on Thursday.

Napoli's midfielder Marek Hamsik (L) is known for his lively style as much for his distinctive Mohican-style haircut

Napoli’s Marek Hamsik (L) reacts as he receives a yellow card by referee Enrico Doveri during s during their Serie A match against Udinese, at the San Paolo Stadium in Naples, on October 7. Until last week Napoli, arguably one of the flair teams of the season in Italy so far this campaign, had been the only other team along with Juventus to stay unbeaten.

Chievo visit the San Paolo stadium without the injured quartet of Lorenzo Squizzi, Gennaro Sardo, Alberto Paloschi and Paul Papp while Napoli will be at full strength.

Hamsik said last week’s defeat will not be forgotten.

“This defeat will only channel our anger for the games to come,” said the Czech, who is known for his lively style as much for his distinctive Mohican-style haircut.

“We start against Chievo, that will be important.”

A slip-up by Napoli, who are second on 19 points, would inevitably spread joy to Lazio, who are only one point behind and travel to Fiorentina on the back of a four-game winning streak in all competitions.

Fiorentina at home, however, is not an easy task for any visiting team and La Viola will be doubly determined following a draw away to a physical Chievo side last week.

Juventus, meanwhile, had little chance to savour taking over sole charge of the league in the wake of the win against Napoli.

Stephan El Shaarawy on Saturday marked his 20th birthday by scoring a goal for AC Milan

AC Milan‘s forward Stephan El Shaarawy celebrates after scoring during their Italian Serie A match between against Genoa, on October 27, at San Siro Stadium in Milan. AC Milan won 2-0.

The Old Lady of Turin may be a giant in Italy, but the team were held in the Champions League by Danish champions Nordsjaelland 1-1 in midweek. So far, Juve are without a win in Europe’s premier club competition.

Antonio Conte’s side remain, however, unbeaten after 47 games — a run which goes all the way back to May 2011.

Ahead of their trip to Catania, who sit seventh with three wins in eight games, captain and keeper Gianluigi Buffon believes Juve are flying given the turbulence at the club in the run-up to last season.

“It’s a magnificent run, especially considering the question mark hanging over all of our heads 14 months ago,” Buffon told juventus.com.

“Instead, we’ve been able to build something unique in this period of time. I don’t think that any team has managed to do the same as we have after two seventh-placed finishes.”

On Saturday, Stephan El Shaarawy marked his 20th birthday by scoring the late goal which gave ailing AC Milan a 1-0 win over Genoa, while earlier Siena vs Palermo match ended in a goalless draw.

Fixtures (times GMT)

Sunday

Catania v Juventus (1030), Bologna v Inter, Fiorentina v Lazio, Pescara v Atalanta, Sampdoria v Cagliari, Torino v Parma (all 1300), Napoli v Chievo (1845), Roma v Udinese (1845)