Cagliari-Napoli Preview

The first week of the season seems so long ago. Enthusiasm and hope filled the air in Naples as Napoli was now back in Serie A in front of their home crowd and Cagliari was ready to show they could survive in Serie A without David Suazo and that the universal prediction they were the most likely team to be relegated was wrong. To everyones surprise, Cagliari blasted Napoli to the point where they were booed off their own pitch by their own fans. Oh how things have changed.

Since that first week when Calgiari was at the top of the Serie A table and carried its first week momentum to what should have been a win over Juventus in week two, the team has managed only seven points and looks certain for the drop. Napoli on the other hand, quickly recoverd and has shown it belongs in Serie A with a solid mid table position.

So what does all that mean for this week when the teams start the second half of the season with the return match in Sardinia? Is Napoli ready to revenge the week one loss? Is Cagliari ready to show they can spank them again, but this time in front of their own fans? Who really cares as the matchup has no real headlines to offer unless Foggia comes out of the tunnel in a Napoli shirt. Cagliari cant score and Napoli always seems to be in a state of unrest because they cant seem to please management despite what should be considered a great first half of the season. This isnt Maradonas Napoli so why is there such unrest?

Anyway, Cagliari will play its typical game. Pack the back, try to get a cheap goal off a fluke set piece or corner kick and hold on for dear life. With no offensive flow you cant earn consistent points in Serie A. Since there is also no midfield presence(although I love Davide Biondini), especially without Foggia who is nursing a phantom injury until the transfer window closes or he is indeed transferred, why not put three strikers on and go for broke? Entertain the fans. Losing 1-0 or 4-0 does not matter to me. I would expect Napoli to do what Udinese and Reggina have done the past couple weeks which is just be patient and once one goal comes, the game is over.

Things arent getting any better in Cagliari. They signed some under 21 player from a low division in Portugal and allowed one of my favorite players, Marco Fortin to just walk away. Yeah he likely was not needed with Storari around, but it seems like the club continues to handle its players horribly which does not make it any easier for a team already lacking talent.

Unless Jeda explodes and thinks hes back at Rimini and can score goals, this game is like all the rest. Its just a matter of how many goals Napoli wants to score.

I hear there are plenty of tickets available at the Saint Elia. I am running out of chances to catch a Serie A game in Cagliari this year but Ill be sure to get a good seat when I go.

Prediction 2-0 Napoli.

Category: Cagliari, Serie A

Tags: Cagliari, Serie A

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