Italian Serie A
2012-02-17 - Fiorentina vs Napoli
A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser
Match Preview :
As it is now Fiorentina sits just outside of the top 10 in the standings, however they still have two games over their opponent entering this match and will want to get a win in this match.
Fiorentina are playing attractive football at home at the moment and a win in front of their home fans would be their third consecutive win on home soil.
As their match with Parma was postponed due to the weather, they have had an extra week of rest under them and also gives them to play three home games in a row.
Also with the extra rest it would have provided Coach Delio Rossi more time to prepare his side whilst his counterpart Walter Mazzarri, may just have one eye on next Tuesday’s Champions League Last 16 against Chelsea.
There have been rumous about Ricardo Montolivo and Stevan Jovetic in the Fiorentina's side. It is thought that Jovetic will see out the rest of the season before departing in the summer with Milan. Jovetic scored a double in the 3-2 win over Udinese and despite reported not to be fit, he will start this match.
Aside from Per Kroldrup and Houssine Kharja still recovering from injury, Rossi has a full strength squad to help him get three points here.
As for Napoli, they don't have any injuries going into this match. The return of captain Paolo Cannavaro will be a boost to the side. They will be hoping to follow up the win against Chievo achieved at home with another positive result as they had failed to win four games before that.
Mazzari needs to ensure that the team are fully focused on this match and not on Chelsea, because if they wish to compete in the Champions League again next year, they will either have to finish in the top three, or win the trophy itself.
Upfront it will be interesting to see who between Jovetic and his free-scoring Napoli counterpart Edinson Cavani performs. Rossi and Mazzarri will be aiming to outwit each other in a chess tactical battle strategy. At the moment Cavani leads 13-12 in the head to head battle.
For the record, In the last 21 top-flight meetings between the sides, Fiorentina have came out tops on twice as many occasions with 10 wins, whilst the remaining six games ended in draws. Also the last time Napoli won at the Stadio Artemio Franchi was on 25th October 2009, when Christian Maggio scored the only goal of the game.
Interestingly it should be stated here that Napoli have won just once from their last six visits to Florence, and have not scored more than one goal in any game at the Artemio Franchi in that time. They also suffered huge defeats in Florence losing 4-0 in April 1995 and March 1998.
Possible lineups
Fiorentina : Boruc; Gamberini, Natali, Natasic, Cassani; Behrami, Montolivo, Salifu, Pasqual; Amauri, Jovetic
Napoli: De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Britos; Maggio, Dzemaili, Inler, Dossena; Lavezzi, Hamsik; Cavani
Predictions
Go for Fiorentina to get the win here. This match ended a draw last season and now Fiorentina will be going all out to get the win here.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Fiorentina 2-1 Napoli
BEST BETTING TIP :
Main Bet :Go for Fiorentina to get the win here.
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Fiorentina to get the win here with their good home form and give the 1/4 ball away here.
