By Anna Italia
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% Ball Possession CAGLIARI and % Ball Possession NAPOLI
Cagliari 1 – 1 Napoli 
9′ Nene 19′ Gonzalo Higuain (pen)
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Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Cagliari, 12th position with 19 points and a negative goal difference of -6
Napoli, 3rd position with 35 points and a positive goal difference of +16
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | Goals | Diff. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Napoli | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 35:19 | 16 | 35 |
| 12 | Cagliari | 16 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 17:23 | -6 | 19 |
Napoli ending the 2013 in third place while Cagliari also ending 2013 in good standing away from the relegation zone.
Cagliari opening the score in the 9th minute. An action started by midfielder Radja Nainggolan to defender Davide Astori while Napoli midfielder Cristian Maggio attempts to block him, but he errs, slipping.. next move, easy, Astori providing the assist to Nene in the center where he had no problem to score with a left footed shot defeating Napoli goalkeeper Reina in the center.
Problems for Cagliari in the 14th minute. A forced substitution because Nene is injured and cannot continue. Forward Mauricio Pinilla replaces Nene.
In the 15th minute, Napoli closer to the goal with super fast forward Goran Pandev followed by 3 Cagliari players, yet, in the final run, Cagliari goalkeeper anticipates to block the action.
Napoli equalize the score in the 19th minute after Referee Valeri grants a penalty. It is Cagliari defender Astori to concede the penalty after a foul on forward Goran Pandev bringing him down inside the penalty box. Taking the penalty spot is forward Gonzalo Higuain smashing the net with a right footed shot leaving Cagliari goalkeeper Avramov defeated while the ball goes to the center. It’s the 9th goal this season for Higuain.
Here is CAGLIARI official starting lineup by coach Diego Lopez:
Cagliari (4-3-1-2-): Avramov; Pisano, Del Fabro, Astori, Murru; Nainggolan, Conti, Dessena; Cossu; Sau, Nenè.
Here is NAPOLI official starting lineup by coach Rafael Benitez:
Napoli (4-2-3-1): Reina; Maggio, Fernandez, Albiol, Reveillere; Dzemaili, Behrami; Callejón, Pandev, Insigne; Higuain.
Stats BEFORE the game: Top scorer for CAGLIARI: Marco Sau and Daniele Conti with 4 goals each
Top scorer for NAPOLI: Forward Gonzalo Higuain with 9 goals
| Cagliari | Goals | Goals | Napoli |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conti, Daniele | 4 | 9 | Higuain, Gonzalo |
| Sau, Marco | 4 | 8 | Callejon |
| Pinilla, Mauricio | 2 | 6 | Hamsik, Marek |
| Nainggolan, Radja | 2 | 6 | Pandev, Goran |
| Ibarbo, Victor | 2 | 3 | Dzemaili, Blerim |
Click here to watch live Soccer Serie A Games
Stats. Here are the last 3 games of CAGLIARI: 1 win, 2 draws
| 15/12/13 | SA | Parma – Cagliari |
0:0 | Round 16 |
| 08/12/13 | SA | Cagliari – Genoa |
2:1 | Round 15 |
| 01/12/13 | SA | Cagliari – Sassuolo |
2:2 | Round 14 |
Here are the last 3 games of NAPOLI: 2 wins, 1 draw
| 5/12/13 | SA | Napoli – Inter |
4:2 | Round 16 |
| 11/12/13 | UCLG | Napoli – Arsenal |
2:0 | Round 6 |
| 07/12/13 | SA | Napoli – Udinese |
3:3 | Round 15 |
Italian Serie A Week 17
Cagliari 1 – 1 Napoli
Saturday 21 December 2013
Sant’Elia Stadium
Cagliari, Italy
20:45
Referee: VALERI
Assistants: POSADO – MARRAZZO
Fourth Official: GIALLATINI
ADD1: ROCCHI
ADD2: GAVILLUCCI
Attendance:
Goals: 9′ Nene (C), 19′ Gonzalo Higuain (pen) (N)
Official formations – lineups:
Cagliari (4-3-1-2-): Avramov; Pisano, Del Fabro, Astori, Murru; Nainggolan, Conti, Dessena; Cossu; Sau, Nenè.
Subs.: Adan, Avelar, Oikonomou, Perico, Cabrera, Ekdal, Eriksson, Ibraimi, Pinilla.
Coach: Luis Diego López.
Napoli (4-2-3-1): Reina; Maggio, Fernandez, Albiol, Reveillere; Dzemaili, Behrami; Callejón, Pandev, Insigne; Higuain.
Subs.: Rafael, Colombo, Armero, Britos, Uvini, Inler, Radosevic, Duvan, Mertens.
Coach: Rafael Benítez
What do you think of the results? Which players surprised you or disappointed you and why?