By Anna Italia
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36% Ball Possession PALERMO and 54% Ball Possession NAPOLI
Palermo 3 – 1 Napoli 
14′ Achraf Lazaar 82′ Manolo Gabbiadini
36′ Franco Vazquez
65′ Luca Rigoni
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Palermo, 9th position with 30 points and a negative goal difference of -2
Napoli, 3rd position with 42 points and a positive goal difference of +14
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | Goals | DIFF | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Napoli | 22 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 41:27 | 14 | 42 |
| 9 | Palermo | 22 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 34:36 | -2 | 30 |
Palermo delighting their fans at the Barbera Stadium by crushing Napoli considering the draw with Napoli at the San Paolo Stadium. It’s a super Happy St. Valentine’s Day for Palermo fans. It’s a step back for Napoli and might lose the third position.
Palermo opening the score in the 14th minute after an error by Napoli goalkeeper Rafael. It is Palermo defender Achraf Lazaar to profit from this mistake and scores the first goal with a left footed shot to the center from about 40 meters. The assist is by forward Franco Vázquez.
Things complicating for Napoli. In the 36th minute there is a combo goal. The action following a fast break started by Quaison passing to Paulo Dybala and then there you go forward Vazquez defeating goalkeeper with a left footed shot in the bottom left corner.
It’s a living nightmare for Napoli falling at the Barbera. Game practically over with the third goal of the match! Palermo midfielder Luca Rigoni defeating goalkeeper Rafael from close range in the 65th minute. The action starting with Dybala to Vazquez and finally Rigoni!
The honor goal for Napoli in the 82nd minute with forward Manolo Gabbiadini.
There are 20 precedents between Palermo vs Napoli. Stats showing Palermo with 7 wins, 8 draws, Napoli with 5 wins.
Here is PALERMO official starting lineup by coach Giuseppe Iachini:
PALERMO (4-3-2-1): Sorrentino; Rispoli, Anđelković, Terzi, Lazaar; Bolzoni, Rigoni, Barreto (cap.); Quaison, Vázquez; Dybala.
Here is NAPOLI official starting lineup by coach Rafael Benitez:
NAPOLI (4-2-3-1): Rafael; Maggio, Albiol, Britos, Strinić; Jorginho, David López; Callejón, Hamšík (cap.), de Guzmán; Higuaín.
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Stats BEFORE the game. Top scorer for PALERMO: Forward Paulo Dybala with 11 goals
Top scorer for NAPOLI: Forward Gonzalo Higuain with 12 goals
| Palermo | Goals | Goals | Napoli |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dybala, Paulo Bruno | 11 | 12 | Higuain, Gonzalo |
| Vazquez, Franco | 6 | 9 | Callejon |
| Belotti, Andrea | 5 | 4 | Zapata, Duvan |
| Rigoni, Luca | 4 | 3 | Hamsik, Marek |
| Barreto, Edgar | 2 | 3 | de Guzman, Jonathan |
Stats. Here are the last 3 games of PALERMO: 1 win, 1 draw, 1 lost
| 08/02/15 | SA | Inter – Palermo | 3:0 | Round 22 | |||
| 01/02/15 | SA | Palermo – Verona | 2:1 | Round 21 | |||
| 25/01/15 | SA | Sampdoria – Palermo | 1:1 | Round 20 |
Here are the last 3 games of NAPOLI: 3 wins
| 08/02/15 | SA | Napoli – Udinese | 3:1 | Round 22 | |||
| 04/02/15 | CI | Napoli – Inter | 1:0 | Quarterfinal | |||
| 01/02/15 | SA | Chievo – Napoli | 1:2 | Round 21 |
Disciplinary situation BEFORE the game. 1 suspended player for PALERMO: G. Gonzalez (1)
1 suspended player for NAPOLI: Mertens (1)
Here is the probable formation for Palermo (3-5-2): Sorrentino; Andelkovic, Terzi, Daprelà; Morganella, Rigoni, Jajalo, Barreto, Lazaar; Vazquez, Dybala
Unavailable: Maresca, Vitiello
Here is the probable formation for Napoli (4-2-3-1): Rafael; Maggio, Koulibaly, Albiol, Strinic; Gargano, Lopez; Gabbiadini, Hamsik, De Guzman; Higuain
Unavailable: Mesto, Michu, Insigne, Zuniga
Photo palermocalcio.it
Palermo coach Giuseppe Iachini and Napoli coach Rafael Benitez
Photo palermocalcio.it
Photo facebook.com/palermocalcioit
Photo facebook.com/palermocalcioit
Photo facebook.com/palermocalcioit
Photo facebook.com/palermocalcioit
Photo facebook.com/palermocalcioit
2014 – 2015 Italian Serie A Week 23
Palermo 3 – 1 Napoli
Saturday 14 February 2015
Renzo Barbera Stadium
Palermo, Italy
20:45
Referee: MAZZOLENI
Assistants: PRETI – SCHENONE
Fourth Official: PEGORIN
ADD1: GERVASONI
ADD2: GHERSINI
Goals: 14′ Achraf Lazaar (P), 36′ Franco Vázquez (P), 65′ Luca Rigoni (P), 82′ Manolo Gabbiadini (N)
Official formations – lineups:
PALERMO (4-3-2-1): Sorrentino; Rispoli, Anđelković, Terzi, Lazaar; Bolzoni, Rigoni, Barreto (cap.); Quaison, Vázquez; Dybala.
Subs.: Ujkani, Milanović, João Silva, Emerson, Della Rocca, Chochev, Ortiz, Jajalo, Daprelà, Morganella, Bentivegna, Belotti.
Coach.: Giuseppe Iachini.
NAPOLI (4-2-3-1): Rafael; Maggio, Albiol, Britos, Strinić; Jorginho, David López; Callejón, Hamšík (cap.), de Guzmán; Higuaín.
Subs.: Andújar, Colombo, Henrique, Gabbiadini, Koulibaly, Ghoulam, Gargano, Inler, Duván Zapata.
Coach.: Rafael Benítez.
Match Stats:
| Palermo | Match Stats | Napoli |
| 3 | Goals | 1 |
| 7 (4) | Shots (on goal) | 8 (3) |
| 18 | Fouls | 18 |
| 1 | Corner kicks | 7 |
| 2 | Offsides | 5 |
| 36% | Ball Possession | 64% |
| 3 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 2 | Saves | 1 |