Napoli vs AC Milan

SS Napoli are home to take on AC Milan in the next to last round of Serie A hoping to bounce back from their defeat on the road to Torino in week 36. AC Milan scored a huge win at home in their big derby match and currently control their destiny in the race for 4^th place which grants a spot in the first round of the Champions League.

Napoli currently sit in 9^th place of the Serie A table with 47 points on the present campaign. Their last match saw them fall by a score of 2-1 away to Torino at the Stadio Olimpico di Torino. With their 47 points Napoli are now 1 point back of 8^th place Genoa and 1 point ahead of 10^th place Palermo. Napoli had gone into that contest unbeaten over their last 3 games. This week manager Reja will be missing Rullo and Zalayeta to injury while Santacroce and Blasi will each be serving a 1 match suspension. Reja is expected to go with a 4-4-2 featuring the Argentine duo of Lavezzi and Roberto Sosa in attack.

The rossoneri are coming off of what might possibly have been their biggest win of the season when they scored a 2-1 victory over Inter Milan in the derby at the San Siro. Thanks to their win AC Milan are in 4^th place of the league table and if the season ended today they would be on their way to the Champions League. AC Milan are now winners of 3 games in a row and 4 of their last 5 overall. They have 61 points on the year and hold a 1 point edge on 5^th place Fiorentina while sitting 9 points back of 3^rd place Juventus. On the injury front manager Carlo Ancelotti will again be missing Ronaldo, Maldini, Dida, Guorcoff and Emerson to injury while Andrea Pirlo will sit out suspended. Look for Pippo Inzaghi to start as the lone striker with Seedorf and Kaka’ behind him as usual. Alexandre Pato starts on the bench.

The result of this match is pretty wide open. Napoli have been a quality club at home this season with 10 wins but Milan have been equally impressive with 10 road victories. With AC Milan needing these 3 points a lot more than Napoli, they just might have enough in the tank to pull out the 3 points.

Prediction: AC Milan (0-1)