By Anna Italia
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@ItalianSerieA
44% Ball Possession INTER and 56% Ball Possession NAPOLI
Inter 0 – 0 Napoli
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Serie A Standing AFTER the game:
Inter, 5th position with 57 points and a positive goal difference of +22
Napoli, 3rd position with 69 points and a positive goal difference of +28
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | Goals | Diff. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Napoli | 35 | 20 | 9 | 6 | 64:36 | 28 | 69 |
| 5 | Inter | 35 | 14 | 15 | 6 | 57:35 | 22 | 57 |
Disciplinary Situation before the game: 2 suspended players for INTER: Samuel (1), Rolando (1)
1 suspended player for NAPOLI: Fernandez (1)
Inter failing to win this home game, but still keeping a spot in the Europa League next season. Napoli remain in the 3rd position despite the draw. The last time Napoli defeated Inter at the Meazza was back on October 1, 2011 with a result Inter 0 – 3 Napoli. Surely, it’s an emotional game for Inter coach Walter Mazzarri facing his ex team Napoli and for Rafael Benitez returning to the Meazza after he was sacked on 23 December 2010. Inter will face AC Milan next week for the Milan Derby. Milan also pursuing the 6th position to be in Europa.
Inter starting the match pressing Napoli. In the 2nd minute the first signal by midielder Hernanes challenging Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina with a right footed shot forcing a save in the center.
Pressing continuing and again, Hernanes challenging goalkeeper Reina in the 10th minute. The assist by forward Rodrigo Palacio to Hernanes delivering this time a left footed shot and is saved again in the center.
In the 24th minute, Napoli midfielder Gokhan Inler with a chance to score after getting the assist by Jorginho. Yet, Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic ready to save Inler’s left footed shot in the bottom right corner.
Referee Rizzoli giving the first yellow card of the match in the 26th minute to Napoli defender Miguel Britos after a foul on Inter forward Rodrigo Palacio winning a free kick.
Inter closer to the goal in the 27th minute, Palacio challenging Napoli goalkeeper Reina with a right footed shot saving in the center.
Napoli defender getting a yellow card in the 37th minute after a foul on forward Palacio.
First half ending 53% ball possession Inter and 37% ball possession Napoli
Inter making the first forced substitution in the 68th minute. Midfielder Danilo D’Ambrosio injured and is replaced by legendary defender Captain Javier Zanetti.
In the 70th minute, Napoli replacing midfielder Dries Mertens with midfielder Marek Hamsik.
Inter with the second substitution in the 74th minute replacing midfielder Hernanes with midfielder Fredy Guarin.
Napoli ending the game in agony seeing forward Gonzalo Higuain badly injured. The forced substitution in the 87th minute replacing Higuain with forward Goran Pandev.
Stats in favor of Inter at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium. Out of the 73 games including 70 in Serie A, 3 in Coppa Italia:
50 victories Inter
15 draws
8 victories Napoli
156 goals ‘Inter
73 goals Napoli
Here is INTER Official starting lineup by coach Walter Mazzarri:
Inter (3-5-2): Handanovic; Campagnaro, Ranocchia, Andreolli; D’Ambrosio, Hernanes, Cambiasso, Kovacic, Nagatomo; Palacio, Icardi.
Here are NAPOLI Official starting lineup by coach Rafael Benitez:
Napoli (4-2-3-1): Reina; Henrique, Albiol, Britos, Ghoulam; Inler, Jorginho; Mertens, Callejòn, Insigne; Higuain.
The night of the “ex”. Rafael Benitez coached Inter from On 10 June 2010 replacing Jose Mourinho. Benitez was sacked on 23 December 2010, despite winning the FIFA Club World Cup.
Walter Mazzarri coached Napoli from October 6, 2009 to May 19, 2013 leaving Napoli in the 2nd position qualified for Champions League. Mazzarri now coaching Inter since May 24, 2013
replacing coach Andrea Stramaccioni.
Click here to watch live Soccer Serie A Games
Stats BEFORE the game. Top scorer for INTER: Forward Rodrigo Palacio with 15 goals
Top scorer for NAPOLI: Forward Gonzalo Higuain with 17 goals
| Inter | Goals | Goals | Napoli |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palacio, Rodrigo Sebastian | 15 | 17 | Higuain, Gonzalo |
| Icardi, Mauro | 8 | 13 | Callejon |
| Nagatomo, Yuto | 5 | 8 | Mertens, Dries |
| Guarin, Fredy | 4 | 6 | Hamsik, Marek |
| Cambiasso, Esteban | 4 | 6 | Pandev, Goran |
Stats. Here are the last 3 games of INTER: 2 wins, 1 draw
| 19/04/14 | SA | Parma – Inter |
0:2 | Round 34 |
| 13/04/14 | SA | Sampdoria – Inter |
0:4 | Round 33 |
| 05/04/14 | SA | Inter – Bologna |
2:2 | Round 32 |
Here are the last 3 games of NAPOLI: 1 win, 1 draw, 1 lost
| 19/04/14 | SA | Udinese – Napoli |
1:1 | Round 34 |
| 13/04/14 | SA | Napoli – Lazio |
4:2 | Round 33 |
| 06/04/14 | SA | Parma – Napoli |
1:0 | Round 32 |
Click the video to watch the highlights of the match, Inter vs Napoli, Saturday 26 April 2014, Serie A Week 35 at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium.
Click the video to watch the commentaries from DIRETTA STADIO by Filippo Tramontana on Inter – Napoli.
Photos Inter vs Napoli courtesy of inter.it
Italian Serie A Week 35
Inter 0 – 0 Napoli
Saturday 26 April 2014
Giuseppe Meazza Stadium
Milan, Italy
20:45
Referee: RIZZOLI
Assistants: NICOLETTI – MARRAZZO
Fourth Official: GHIANDAI
ADD1: ROCCHI
ADD2: TOMMASI
Goals: No goals
Official formations – lineups:
Inter (3-5-2): Handanovic; Campagnaro, Ranocchia, Andreolli; D’Ambrosio, Hernanes, Cambiasso, Kovacic, Nagatomo; Palacio, Icardi.
Subs: Castellazzi, Carrizo, Zanetti, Guarin, Kuzmanovic, Taider, Botta, Milito.
Coach: Walter Mazzarri
Napoli (4-2-3-1): Reina; Henrique, Albiol, Britos, Ghoulam; Inler, Jorginho; Mertens, Callejòn, Insigne; Higuain.
Subs: Colombo, Doblas, Reveiller, Mesto, Hamsik, Zuniga, Dzemaili, Radosevic, Behrami, Pandev, Zapata.
Coach: Rafael Benitez
|
Inter 0 – 0 Napoli 20:45 Referee: RIZZOLI |
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| Inter | Match Stats |
Napoli |
| 0 | Goals | 0 |
| 14 (6) | Shots (on goal) | 14 (1) |
| 7 | Fouls | 10 |
| 2 | Corner kicks | 4 |
| 1 | Offsides | 0 |
| 44% | Ball Possession | 56% |
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 3 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 1 | Saves | 6 |
What do you think of the results? Which players surprised you or disappointed you and why?