Serie A Preview: Napoli – Siena

The 15th round of Serie A matches brings together two teams that find themselves in contrasting positions. This season Napoli are looking like serious contenders for a European, if not Champions League spot, while Siena still have a battle on their hands to stay up despite some impressive results against better teams.

Siena On-Form

Marco Giampaolo’s men are enjoying a good run of form at the moment, as they have accumulated 10 points in their last five matches, including a fantastic victory over their bitter Tuscan rivals Fiorentina at the beginning of the month. Siena have been performing surprisingly well in the past few weeks, and after two consecutive victories they are feeling confident as well.

In last week's game Siena came away with three points at home to Torino. An early strike from Massimo Maccarone gave them their third win in five matches at the expense of a Torino outfit that has been struggling in the top league.

In the 19th minute Maccarone netted with his second chance of the game following a great solo effort. Both of these relegation strugglers are likely to be fighting to stay up until the bitter end, so these three points may prove to be invaluable for the Tuscan side.

Siena will find it difficult to get going at the San Paolo stadium, but they have surprised a few top teams so far this season and they could do it again. Maccarone is finally getting the ball into the back of the net and once he is fired up it is difficult to keep him contained.

Napoli Starting To Slip

After a brilliant start to the season, Napoli’s results are on the slide. Despite providing good performances they have only collected four points in five games and were defeated by Inter Milan at the weekend.

The Nerazzurri went 2-0 up through Ivan Cordoba and Ghana’s Sulley Muntari before conceding a consolation goal from Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Napoli are desperate to reignite their European hopes and start winning the points again. Their season has soured slightly in recent matches with a number of poor results, but this match could be the turning point that sees them pick up up a good home win and go on to close the gap with those above them before the Christmas break.

FORM GUIDE

Napoli

November 30: Inter 2-1 Napoli

November 23: Napoli 2-2 Cagliari

November 16: Atalanta 3-1 Napoli

November 12: Napoli 3-1 Salernitana

November 09: Napoli 2-0 Sampdoria

Siena

November 30: Siena 1-0 Torino

November 23: Chievo Verona 0-2 Siena

November 16: Siena 1-1 Bologna

November 09: Lazio 3-0 Siena

November 02: Siena 1-0 Fiorentina

TEAM NEWS

Napoli

Edy Reja will wait until the last minute to determine whether Matteo Contini will be able to play and if he is unable to, the defender may be replaced by Salvatore Aronica. Marcelo Zalayeta may be on the bench, as German Denis has returned to the squad.

Probable Starting XI: Iezzo; Santacroce, P.Cannavaro, Aronica; Maggio, Blasi, Gargano, Hamsik, Mannini; Denis, Lavezzi.

Siena

Siena coach Giampaolo has no serious selection problems ahead of this weekend's encounter in Naples. Long-term injury absentee Paul Codrea will still be out, but other than the Romanian all other players are available. Mario Frick is back to proper training with the squad and should start from the bench.

Probable Starting XI: Curci; Zuniga, Rossettini, Portanova, Del Grosso; Vergassola, Coppola, Galloppa; Kharja; Maccarone, Ghezzal.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Napoli

Marek Hamsik has been nothing short of a revelation in the Azzurri colours, becoming a firm fan-favourite and deserving his status as one of the most impressive young players in the Italian league. The player transferred to the Partenopei in 2007 and has since become a mature player full of promise and potential.

Various teams in Italy and Europe have reportedly made advances to try and prise Hamsik away from the Neapolitan outfit, but he remains loyal to the Napoli cause. His marauding runs and dangerously accurate finishing, combined with a visionary sense of positioning, make him a nightmare for any defence and an ace in the Napoli pack. He has scored six impressive goals in Serie A so far this year.

Siena

Massimo Maccarone was excellent for Siena last season as the 29-year-old scored 13 time in his most prolific season ever for a top-flight club. This season he has only scored twice in Serie A, but he is sure to start building his scoring tally soon, with this weekend's game presenting a mouthwatering challenge for the front-man against the tough Partenopei defence.

Maccarone is looked upon as a leader by the other players due to his goal-scoring ability and experience, and the bald-headed hit-man could be the one to lead Siena out of the drop zone.

PREDICTION

Both of these teams have looked impressive at times this year, with form suggesting that currently Siena have the psychological edge in terms of the confidence gained by recent results; but Napoli are an amazing force at home, and they will surely outplay their lesser opponents.

Napoli 3-1 Siena

Peter Pedroncelli