Title-chasing Napoli await Serie A giant killers
>> MILAN: Former Napoli defender Paolo Cannavaro has played down Sassuolo’s ‘giant-killer’ status as the Serie A minnows look to claim another scalp on their way to an unlikely place in Europe next season.
Cannavaro was a reluctant departee from Napoli when he was transferred to Sassuolo in January 2014.
But the 34-year-old centre-back is now a pivotal part of Eusebio Di Francesco’s well-oiled, attacking outfit and has a simple explanation for their recent wave of success.
“This season we’re a lot more aware of our capabilities compared to last season,” Cannavaro, the 34-yearold told Sky Sport.
“We’re growing as a team and what we’ve achieved so far is simply down to our performances.”
Yet Sassuolo, who sit 10 points behind l eaders Napoli i n sixth place, are becoming the team none of this season’s ‘scudetto’ challengers want to face.
Promoted to Serie A in 2013, Sassuolo are the only team to have escaped being beaten by all five of this season’s title challengers.
De Francesco’s men beat Napoli at home on the opening day of the season, drew away to Roma, beat Juventus at home, drew at home with Fiorentina and stunned Inter Milan 1-0.
Since their reverse to the Tuscans, Napoli have put their mediocre start firmly behind them to finish top of Serie A at the halfway stage of the season for the first time in 26 years.
Napoli this weekend are the only title contenders playing at home, but with 19 games remaining and Juventus back in contention after a poor start, Maurizio Sarri’s men have it all to do.
Juventus travel to Udinese looking for a 10th consecutive league win and will be without Spanish striker Alvaro Morata.
Inter travel to Atalanta for today’s early fixture looking to make amends for conceding defeat twice in their past three games but with the chance to go top.
Atalanta are on a run of four straight defeats, but another Inter slip-up would be embraced by the Nerazzurri’s titles rivals, including Fiorentina, who visit AC Milan tomorrow looking to make amends for last week’s 3-1 reverse to Lazio.
Roma, in fifth at seven points behind, welcome Verona to the Stadio Olimpico for former coach Luciano Spalletti’s first game back in charge.