Napoli have made a habit of dropping points against mediocre mid-table opponents this season and tomorrow’s trip to Atalanta is exactly the sort of match which is likely to fill their supporters with dread.
If Rafael Benitez’s team had beaten Sassuolo, Cagliari, Udinese, Bologna and Chievo as expected, they would be only two points behind leaders Juventus with nearly half the season still to play.
Instead they drew against all five teams and, rather than chasing Juventus, are now looking over their shoulders at Fiorentina, who are challenging them for third place which earns a spot in the UEFA Champions League play-off round.
Atalanta, who host Napoli tomorrow afternoon, are 12th with 24 points from 21 games, just the type of team Napoli (44 points) are prone to slip up against.
Even more frustratingly, Napoli have won the more difficult games, beating Milan, Lazio, Verona and Fiorentina away and thumping Inter 4-2 at home.
Benitez, who has rebuilt Napoli this season with the €64 million the club earned by selling Edinson Cavani to Paris St Germain, has been exasperated as a combination of sloppy defending and erratic finishing have cost his team crucial points.
Despite the slip-ups, the former Liverpool, Chelsea and Inter coach sees a bright future for the club especially after signing Brazilian midfielder Jorginho from Verona during the January transfer window.
“Jorginho has personality,” he said.
“He’s not afraid of making mistakes, he’s a player with qualify who can do very well here.
“We’ve brought him to Napoli because he’s different to the midfielders we already have and gives us tactical alternatives.
“We are in a phase where we are growing and I’m very positive for the future. We have players in the team who can play at the top level for another four or five seasons, no doubt.
“We are among the top three in Italy and this is a great chance to carry on with our project and aim higher.”
Inter’s miserable run looks set to continue as they visit leaders Juventus tomorrow night, only a week after the clubs fell out over the failed exchange of Fredy Guarin and Mirko Vucinic.
The clubs, bitter rivals at the best of times, had already agreed terms for Inter midfielder Guarin to swap with Juve forward Vucinic when the Milan club pulled the plug following protests by their fans.
Inter, who are fifth with 33 points and are just one clear of Torino, Parma and Verona, have won only one of their nine last matches while Juventus, six points clear of Roma, have won 18 out of 21 games this season.
Inter won 3-1 at the Juventus stadium on their last league visit but that heralded a long, steady decline which eventually saw them finish ninth last term and earned coach Andrea Stramaccioni the sack.
Second-placed Roma, who have scored 10 goals in winning their last three games, host Parma as they attempt to keep up the pressure on Juventus after cutting their lead from eight to six points last Sunday.
Fourth-placed Fiorentina visit Cagliari this evening.
Fixtures
Serie A
Playing today
Bologna vs Udinese - 18.00
Cagliari vs Fiorentina - 18.00
Milan vs Torino - 20.45
Tomorrow – 15.00
Atalanta vs Napoli
Catania vs Livorno
Chievo vs Lazio
Juventus vs Inter - 20.45
Roma vs Parma
Sassuolo vs Verona
Monday – 20.45
Genoa vs Sampdoria
Standings: Juventus 56; Roma 50; Napoli 44; Fiorentina 41; Inter 33; Verona, Parma, Torino 32; Milan, Lazio 28; Genoa 27; Atalanta 24; Sampdoria 22; Cagliari 21; Udinese 20; Chievo, Bologna 18; Sassuolo 17; Livorno 16; Catania 14.
Serie B
Played yesterday
Avellino vs Latina - 1-1
Today – 15.00
Brescia vs Bari
Cesena vs Crotone
Modena vs Varese
Padova vs Carpi
Pescara vs Trapani
Reggina vs Lanciano
Siena vs Novara
Spezia vs Juve Stabia
Ternana vs Cittadella
Monday – 20.30
Empoli vs Palermo
Leading standings
Palermo 41; Empoli 39; Avellino 38; Lanciano 36; Cesena, Pescara, Latina 34.