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 today when they host struggling Chievo.
Until last week Napoli, arguably one of the flair teams of the season, had been the only other side along with Juventus to stay unbeaten.
However, it was a comparatively tame Napoli that turned up at Juventus Stadium, and they paid for their lack of bite with a 2-0 defeat that allowed Juventus to open up a three-point gap at the top of the table.
On paper, Walter Mazzarri’s side, which boasts the goalscoring talents 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 but head into the match on the back of a 3-1 Europa League loss to Dnipro-petrovsk on Thursday.
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.
“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 the 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 Serie A champion-ship in the wake of the win against Napoli.
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 said.
“Instead, we’ve been able to build something unique in this period.
“I don’t think that any team has managed to do the same as we have after two seventh-place finishes.”
Milan, meanwhile, host Genoa at the San Siro tonight knowing they must turn their fortunes around if they are to have any hopes at all in Serie A this season.
Milan’s 1-0 Champions League defeat to Malaga on Wednesday was their sixth defeat in 11 games in all competitions, and the rumour mill already claims the club have contacted former player Frank Rijkaard to replace coach Massimiliano Allegri.
Fixtures
Serie A
Playing Today
Siena Vs Palermo 18.00
Milan Vs Genoa 20.45
Tomorrow – 15.00
Bologna Vs Inter
Catania Vs Juventus 12.30
Fiorentina Vs Lazio
Napoli Vs Chievo20.45
Pescara Vs Atalanta
Roma Vs Udinese20.45
Sampdoria Vs Cagliari
Torino Vs Parma
Standings: Juve 22; Napoli 19; Lazio, Inter 18; Roma 14; Fiorentina 12; Catania 11; Samp (-1) 10; Torino (-1), Genoa, Parma, Udinese 9; Atalanta (-2), Cagliari 8; Milan, Bologna, Chievo, Pescara 7; Palermo 6; Siena (-6) 2.
Serie B
Played Yesterday
Sassuolo Vs Juve Stabia1-0
Livorno Vs Cesena1-0
Today – 15.00
Brescia Vs Pro Vercelli
Empoli Vs Modena
Grosseto Vs Ternana
Novara Vs Varese
Padova Vs Bari
Reggina Vs Ascoli
Spezia Vs Cittadella
Verona Vs Lanciano
Vicenza Vs Crotone
Standings: Sassuolo 28; Livorno 22; Verona 21; Padova (-2) 16; Spezia, Juve Stabia, Ternana 15; Modena (-2), Varese (-1) 14; Brescia, Cittadella 13; Ascoli (-1) 12; Bari (-7) 11; Vicenza 10; Novara (-4), Crotone (-2), Cesena 9; Lanciano 8; Pro Vercelli 7; Reggina (-3), Empoli (-1) 6; Grosseto (-6) 2.