Confidence is soaring in the Napoli camp ahead of today’s match at Milan.
The Southerners head into the clash at the San Siro after a 2-1 win over Juventus and a 2-0 Europa League triumph at Legia Warsaw in midweek.
Against Legia, Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri made seven changes to the side that won against Juve but his team nevertheless played well and clinched their second win in Group D.
“This victory is down to the whole group,” Sarri told reporters.
“Those that have played less started against Legia and they played a great game. It’s really satisfying to have won this game, not just for the result but to see that despite the changes that I made to the starting XI, the team did not lose its identity.
“The performance was a good one and I’ve seen the right mentality from everyone.”
Thursday’s win was Napoli’s first on the road this season.
Napoli made a poor start to the Serie A campaign under Sarri, who replaced the departed Rafa Benitez this summer.
They did not win any of their first three league games but since thrashing Lazio 5-0 last month, Napoli have looked more dangerous. They scored 14 goals and gave away just one in their last five games in all competitions.
Napoli are 10th in the standings, level on nine points with Milan, who are 11th.
“This is a very important game, not just because of who we face and the history the two clubs have,” Sarri said.
“This is a game between two teams that don’t know yet how far they can go this season. The game against Milan could be an indication in that respect.”
Milan go into the contest after a 1-0 defeat at Genoa in the last round.
“We have a capable coach in (Sinisa) Mihajlovic,” Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi told Gazzetta dello Sport yesterday.
“I’m confident that we will soon get important results once the new players have adapted to the team’s tactics.
“I believe we will have the possibility to qualify for next season’s Champions League, a necessary aim for the club’s projects.”
Milan, who have won their opening two home games, have not kept a clean sheet in any of their six games this season.
Sarri will have all of his players available.
Gonzalo Higuain, who has scored four goals in his team’s last four games, will lead Napoli’s attack.
The hosts are without injured trio Ignazio Abate, Jeremy Menez and M’Baye Niang while defender Alessio Romagnoli is suspended.
Sannino lifts Carpi
Carpi secured their first ever Serie A victory with a 2-1 defeat of Torino in their first fixture under new coach Beppe Sannino.
The hosts, who had sacked Sannino’s predecessor Fabrizio Castori, took the lead 10 minutes into the second half when Gabriel Silva’s effort hit the post before bouncing off Torino goalkeeper Daniele Padelli’s shoulder and in for an own goal.
Ryder Matos then doubled their lead. He began a 72nd-minute counter attack and combined with Marco Borriello before heading in and collapsing with cramp.
Within three minutes Torino’s Maxi Lopez had been fouled inside the area by Igor Bubnjic, allowing the Argentinian to score from the resultant penalty.
Torino added further pressure in their pursuit of an equaliser, but Carpi resisted to create history.
Results
Serie A
Played yesterday
Carpi 2
Padelli 55og; Matos 72;
Torino 1
Lopez 75 pen.;
HT: 0-0. Att: 8,011.
Chievo 1
Castro 83;
Verona 1
Pisano 70;
HT: 0-0. Att: 11,000.
Playing today
Empoli vs Sassuolo - 12.30
Fiorentina vs Atalanta - 20.45
Milan vs Napoli - 20.45
Palermo vs Roma - 15.00
Sampdoria vs Inter - 15.00
Udinese vs Genoa - 15.00
Juventus vs Bologna - 18.00
Lazio vs Frosinone - 18.00
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Fiorentina | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 15 |
| Inter | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 15 |
| Torino | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 13 |
| Chievo | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 12 |
| Sassuolo | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 12 |
| Lazio | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 12 |
| Roma | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 11 |
| Atalanta | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 11 |
| Sampdoria | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 10 |
| Napoli | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 9 |
| Milan | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
| Palermo | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
| Udinese | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 6 |
| Genoa | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Juventus | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 5 |
| Carpi | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 5 |
| Frosinone | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 |
| Verona | 7 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 4 |
| Empoli | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 4 |
| Bologna | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 3 |
Top scorers
6 goals: Eder (Sampdoria).
5 goals: Higuain (Napoli).
4 goals: Paloschi (Chievo), Quagliarella (Torino), Kalinic (Fiorentina).
Next fixtures
Saturday, Oct. 17: 18.00 Roma vs Empoli. 20.45 Torino vs Milan.
Sunday, Oct. 18: 12.30 Bologna vs Palermo. 15.00 Atalanta vs Carpi; Frosinone vs Sampdoria; Genoa vs Chievo; Verona vs Udinese; Napoli vs Fiorentina; Sassuolo vs Lazio. 20.45 Inter vs Juventus.
Serie B
Played yesterday
Avellino vs Vicenza - 1-4
Brescia vs Modena - 2-2
Cesena vs Livorno - 1-0
Como vs Ascoli - 0-4
Entella vs Pro Vercelli - 1-0
Latina vs Bari - 1-2
Pescara vs Cagliari - 1-0
Ternana vs Novara - 2-0
Virtus Lanciano vs Spezia - 0-0
Playing tomorrow
Trapani vs Perugia - 20.30
Standings: Cagliari, Crotone, Cesena 13; Livorno 12; Spezia, Bari 11; Vicenza 10; Trapani, Pescara 9; Salernitana 8; Ascoli, Modena 7; Lanciano, Latina, Brescia, Entella 6; Perugia, Pro Vercelli, Como 5; Ternana, Avellino 4; Novara (-2) 3.
Lega Pro
Group A: Bassano vs Cuneo 2-0; Calcio Padova vs Sudtirol 0-2; Pro Patria vs Pordenone 1-4; Alessandria vs Albino-Leffe 2-1; Pavia vs Cittadella 1-2; Renate vs Lumezzane 0-2; Cremonese vs FeralpiSalo 0-1; Giana vs Piacenza 1-2; Mantova vs Reggiana 0-2.
Group C: Ischia vs Akragas 0-1; Juve Stabia vs Casertana 1-2; Fidelis Andria vs Castelli Romani 2-0; Lecce vs Catania 0-0; Paganese vs Messina 1-1; Melfi vs Benevento 3-0; Monopoli vs Martina 1-0; Matera vs Foggia 1-1.