Cagliari vs. Napoli 27/1/2008 [R]

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Serie A Week 20 - 27/1/08 (14.00 UK)[/FONT]

​

​

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Cagliari-Napoli[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Georgia,Times]Stadio Sant'Elia[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Bottom side Cagliari desperately need to stop their slide towards Serie B, but their opponents Napoli won’t be short of motivation as they arrive at the Stadio Sant’Elia.

Cagliari are hurtling towards the abyss after a catastrophic run. The Sardinians have lost seven games in a row and panic is setting in after a disastrous week that saw them dumped out of the Coppa Italia by a 4-0 defeat against Sampdoria and felled by fellow strugglers Reggina. Davide Ballardini has a phenomenal task ahead trying to instil confidence at a team enduring its worst spell since 1991-92.

If the Rossoblu are to stay afloat they must win for the first time since Week 6 and avoid being cut further adrift at the bottom. A six-point chasm is serious enough – any greater gap would surely be unbridgeable. A lot of pressure falls on new striker Jeda and youngster Alessandro Matri as Cagliari’s main problem has been finding the net. Their long-suffering fans have only seen them score five times at home all season – a dismal record that must be changed immediately.

Although newly promoted Napoli are sitting comfortably in 10th place, President Aurelio De Laurentiis’ demanding attitude has left Coach Edy Reja fearing for his job. The Vesuviani chief was livid after a Coppa Italia exit and the gauntlet has been laid down – a UEFA Cup qualification spot is the target.

With the middle of the table so tightly poised as just a point separates five sides, Napoli are still very much in the running for a European berth. Reja needs to inspire a shaken side and the pressure is on, as a defeat will surely provoke another outburst from De Laurentiis. Reja has an added motivation as he led Cagliari up from Serie B in 2003-04 but the club chose not to offer him a new contract.

Ballardini has a lot of work to do to patch together a convincing 11. Michele Canini limped off against Reggina with an ankle injury and is a big doubt. Key men Pasquale Foggia and Joe Bizera were absent in Calabria and may not have fully recovered from fitness problems. Star defender Francesco Pisano is still sidelined along with Swiss midfielder Rijat Shala. Marco Storari keeps the gloves with reserve goalkeeper Marco Fortin’s contract rescinded. Daniele Conti and Joaquin Larrivey return from bans.

Napoli travel without suspended midfielder Manuele Blasi – Serie A’s least disciplined player with 10 yellow cards and a red. Coach Reja was sent off against Lazio, so assistant Fabio Viviani will have to patrol the sideline. Matteo Contini and 32nd birthday boy Andrea Cupi are both doubts due to niggling complaints.

[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Keep an eye on:[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular] Marek Hamsik (Napoli) – It wasn’t hard to see why Manchester United are keeping an eye on the young Slovak midfielder when he single-handedly sealed a point against Lazio last weekend.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Last meeting: they won 2-0[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Form guide: [/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Cagliari (L L L L L) Napoli (W D D L D) [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Cagliari (probable): [/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Storari; Ferri, Lopez, Bianco, Agostini; Biondini, Conti, Parola, Jeda; Fini, Del Matri[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Napoli (probable): [/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Iezzo; Cupi, Cannavaro, Domizzi; Garics, Hamsik, Gargano, Bogliacino, Savini; Lavezzi, Zalayeta[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]If we don't win here, we're in serious trouble.
[/FONT]

 

Bad news...

Savini k.o. Dubbi per Iezzo e Domizzi

25 gennaio 2008 - Savini no, Iezzo e Domizzi in dubbio. Bollettino medico per nulla rassicurante, quello diffuso dal medico sociale azzurro, Alfonso De Nicola: Savini, afflitto da un'infiammazione tendinea salterà la trasferta di Cagliari; Iezzo, invece, soffre ancora per i postumi della contusione al ginocchio sinistro e svolgerà domani il test decisivo sul campo (pronto Gianello); Domizzi, fermo per un problema muscolare, è in attesa dell'esito di un esame strumentale al quale è stato sottoposto prima dell'allenamento. Il resto della squadra ha svolto un lavoro a ritmo ridotto al centro sportivo di Castelvolturno: Gianello e Del Giudice con il preparatore dei portieri, Facciolo; Garics sulla fascia destra a provare i cross; il resto del gruppo a palleggiare a calcio-tennis sotto lo sguardo di Reja. Contini è ormai recuperato. Soltanto domani, alla vigilia della partenza per Cagliari, sarà possibile immaginare una formazione aderente alla realtà. Nel frattempo, il presidente del Genoa, Enrico Preziosi, è intervenuto ai microfoni Radio Kiss Kiss precisando la volontà dell'attaccante della Roma, Mauro Esposito: "Eravamo interessati anche noi al giocatore -, ma lui vuole il Napoli". Il d.g. azzurro Marino, intervenuto a Sky, ha precisato invece che il club non ha ancora deciso se portare subito in rosa Mannini o rimandare il suo trasferimento a giugno e lasciarlo al Brescia. Il centrocampista pisano è al settimo cielo: "Sono felicissimo - ha detto Mannini - è un sogno giocare in una squadra così forte. Ritroverò il mio ex compagno Hamsik, un campione autentico".

 

Del Giudice was called up last time Iezzo was out if I'm not mistaken.

 

I think you meant Mario D'Urso, class of '89. There's a typo on tuttonapoli stating he's '83.

 

Reja might play Grava instead of Rullo in order to contain Foggia.