By Anna Italia
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@ItalianSerieA
43% Ball Possession NAPOLI and 57% Ball Possession INTER
Napoli 4 – 2 Inter
9′ Gonzalo Higuain 35′ Esteban Cambiasso
39′ Dries Mertens 45′ Yuto Nagatomo
41′ Blerim Dzemaili
81′ Jose Maria Callejon
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Serie A Standing AFTER the game:
Napoli, 3rd position with 35 points and a positive goal difference of +16
Inter, 5th position with 28 points and a positive goal difference of +15
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | Goals | Diff. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Napoli | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 35:19 | 16 | 35 |
| 5 | Inter | 16 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 36:21 | 15 | 28 |
Inter not able to win at the San Paolo since 16 years. Napoli finding redemption after being elimination from the Champions League. A great victory for Napoli thanks to the first goal by forward Gonzalo Higuain. Napoli keeping the third position while Inter went down from the 4th to the 5th position.
What a blow. Napoli taking the lead thanks to an error by Inter defender Yuto Nagatomo trying to clear the ball sends the ball with a headed shot towards the center providing “an unwilling” assist to Higuain. Here is the thing. Higuain catching the ball on the air to smack a left footed shot defeating Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic in the bottom left corner. It’s Higuain’s 8th goal this season.
Inter equalizing in the 35th minute with midfielder Esteban “El Cucho” Cambiasso. A great goal because the action started with the assist by Ricardo Alvarez towards the center finding on its way forward Rodrigo Palacio who was being challenged by Napoli players not having time to attempt the shoot and makes a wise decision by just letting the ball pass under his legs to reach Cambiasso for the final left footed shot defeating Napoli goalkeeper Reina in the bottom right corner. Cambiasso running to celebrate….
Mamma mia, four minutes later and there you go. Napoli taking the lead again. In the 39th minute, a brilliant goal. A fast race between midfielder Blerim Dzemaili and Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia attempting to clear, but Dzemaili quick enough providing the assist to forward Dries Mertens to score with a right footed shot defeating Inter goalkeeper Handanovic in the bottom right corner.
This is just crazy. In the 41st minute, Inter goalkeeper Handanovic making a boo boo, a mistake. Handanovic saves the shot by Mertens, but the ball still free in the area and Dzemaili not hesitating to smack a right footed shot to the center!!!!!
What a game. Inter shortening the distance in the 45th minute with defender Nagatomo redeeming himself!!!! Nagatomo scoring with a right footed shot from close range.
First half ends 41% ball possession Napoli and 59% ball possession Inter.
Napoli closer to the goal in the 54th minute with forward Lorenzo Insigne delivering a right footed shot only to be saved by Inter goalkeeper Handanovic in the bottom right corner.
Counter attack with Inter in the 55th minute! Napoli goalkeeper Reina saving the right footed shot by Yuto Nagatomo!
Super save by Napoli goalkeeper Reina in the 65th minute anticipating before the final shot by Inter midfielder Fredy Guarin closer to the goal.
Oh oh spaghetti oh! Things getting complicated for Inter in the 71st minute. Referee Tagliavento giving the second yellow card to Ricardo Alvarez for a handball. Inter remaining with 10 players.
In the 81st minute the goal by Jose Maria Callejon defeating goalkeeper Handanovic with a right footed shot to the center from close range. The assist by Lorenzo Insigne and is party at the San Paolo. A poker.
Inter goalkeeper Handanovic stopping the penalty by forward Goran Pandev in the 90th minute. Penalty conceded by defender Andrea Ranocchia.
General stats for games in Naples are in favor of Napoli considering the 75 games in Serie A and Coppa Italia with a record of:
35 wins Napoli
21 draws
19 wins Inter
88 goals Napoli
72 goals Inter
Napoli won their last game against Inter at the San Paolo on May 5, 2013 with a 3-1.
Last draw on May 15, 2011 with a 1-1. The last time that Inter won at the San Paolo was on October 18, 1997 with a 0-2 score.
Here is NAPOLI official starting lineup by coach Rafael Benitez:
Napoli:Rafael; Maggio, Fernandez, Albiol, Reveillere; Inler, Dzemaili; Insigne, Callejón, Mertens; Higuain
Here is INTER official starting lineup by coach Walter Mazzarri:
Inter: Handanovic; Campagnaro, Ranocchia, Rolando; Jonathan, Taider, Cambiasso, Alvarez, Nagatomo; Guarin; Palacio.
Click here to watch live Soccer Serie A Games
Stats AFTER the game. Here are the last 3 games of NAPOLI: Forward Gonzalo Higuain with 8 goals
Here are the last 3 games of INTER: Forward Rodrigo Palacio with 9 goals
| Napoli | Goals | Goals | Inter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higuain, Gonzalo | 8 | 9 | Palacio, Rodrigo Sebastian |
| Callejon, Jose | 7 | 4 | Alvarez, Ricardo |
| Hamsik, Marek | 6 | 3 | Guarin, Fredy |
| Pandev, Goran | 6 | 3 | Nagatomo, Yuto |
| Dzemaili, Blerim | 2 | 3 | Cambiasso, Esteban |
Before the game. Disciplinary situation: No suspended players
Stats. Here are the last 3 games of NAPOLI: 2 wins, 1 draw
| 11/12/13 | UCLG | Napoli – Arsenal |
2:0 | Round 6 |
| 07/12/13 | SA | Napoli – Udinese |
3:3 | Round 15 |
| 02/12/13 | SA | Lazio – Napoli |
2:4 | Round 14 |
Here are the last 3 games of INTER: 1 win, 2 draws
| 08/12/13 | SA | Inter – Parma |
3:3 | Round 15 |
| 04/12/13 | CI | Inter – Trapani |
3:2 | Round 4 |
| 01/12/13 | SA | Inter – Sampdoria |
1:1 | Round 14 |
Click the video to watch the commentaries from DIRETTA STADIO, Napoli – Inter, Sunday 15 December 2013, San Paolo Stadium, Naples, Italy, Serie A Week 16
Watch the goal by Napoli forward Gonzalo Higuain against Inter
Italian Serie A Week 16
Napoli 4 – 2 Inter
Sunday 15 December 2013
San Paolo Stadium
Naples, Italy
20:45
Referee: TAGLIAVENTO
Assistants: GIALLATINI – DOBOSZ
Fourth Official: LIBERTI
ADD1: ORSATO
ADD2: DOVERI
Attendance:
Goals: 9′ Gonzalo Higuain (N), 35′ Esteban Cambiasso (I), 39′ Dries Mertens (N), 41′ Blerim Dzemaili (N), 45′ Yuto Nagatomo (I)
Official formations – lineups:
Napoli: 1 Rafael, 2 Reveillere, 7 Callejon, 9 Higuain, 11 Maggio,
14 Mertens, 20 Dzemaili, 21 Fernandez, 24 Insigne, 33 Albiol, 88 Inler.
Subs:
15 Colombo, 25 Reina, 3 Uvini, 5 Britos, 13 Bariti, 12 Bariti, 19
Pandev, 22 Radosevic, 27 Armero, 28 Cannavaro, 85 Behrami, 91 Zapata
.
Coach: Rafa Benitez.
Inter:
1 Handanovic; 14 Campagnaro, 23 Ranocchia, 35 Rolando; 2 Jonathan, 21
Taider, 19 Cambiasso, 11 Alvarez, 55 Nagatomo; 13 Guarin; 8 Palacio.
Subs:
12 Castellazzi, 30 Carrizo, 4 Zanetti, 5 Juan Jesus, 6 Andreolli, 7
Belfodil, 9 Icardi, 10 Kovacic, 16 Mudingayi, 17 Kuzmanovic, 18 Wallace,
31 Pereira.
Coach: Walter Mazzarri.
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Napoli 4 – 2 Inter 20:45 Referee: TAGLIAVENTO |
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| Napoli | Match |
Inter |
| 4 | Goals | 2 |
| 12(8) | Shots (on goal) | 11(5) |
| 12 | Fouls | 9 |
| 4 | Corner kicks | 6 |
| 1 | Offsides | 5 |
| 43% | Time of Possession | 57% |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 0 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 1 |
| 3 | Saves | 4 |
What do you think of the results? Which players surprised you or disappointed you and why?