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Napoli vs. Parma: Confirmed Serie A lineups, match discussion, and breaks

Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

We've finally arrived at the last Serie A match of 2014. The winter break beckons, and with it, the Supercoppa Italia next week. First, though, Napoli must beat Parma, and to do so, Rafa Benitez has elected to run out a rather... unusual lineup.

Gonzalo Higuain is benched again after last weekend's horror show in Milan, a match that he looked absolutely exhausted for most of despite getting most of the midweek match against Slovan Bratislava off. Also getting a rest thanks to poor results at the weekend is Jorginho, who's been in steadily decreasing form of late and was atrocious in midfield in Milan.

The stranger decision, though, comes on the back line. We knew Raul Albiol would miss out, as he's suspended for yellow card accumulation. Also benched, though, is Kalidou Koulibaly, AKA Napoli's best defender this season, for no apparent reason. That means a return of the Henrique Buss-Miguel Britos center back pairing, which should be a delight.

Napoli: Rafael; Maggio, Henrique, Britos, Ghoulam; Gargano, Lopez; Mertens, Hamsik, Callejon; Duvan

Parma: Mirante; Lucarelli, Santacroce, Paletta; Gobbi, Mauri, Acquah, Galloppa, De Ceglie; Cassano, Palladino

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TV: BeIN Sports (USA and Canada); BT Sport 1 (UK); Premium Calcio (Italy)

Online: BeIN Sports Connect (USA and Canada); Sky Go Italia, Premium Play (Italy)

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