clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Napoli vs. Cagliari lineups, team news, and match discussion

Napoli must seize their opportunity against a bottom-half team.

Cagliari Calcio v SSC Napoli - Serie A Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images

Napoli face Cagliari on a Saturday that gives them quite a large opportunity — a win would see them move past Roma provisionally in the table, and with the capitol club facing a tricky match this weekend, they could make that move permanent.

But first Napoli need to beat Cagliari, which they did quite handily on the road in December, winning 5-0 thanks to a hat trick from Dries Mertens, plus goals from Marek Hamsik and Piotr Zielinski along the way. A similar result may not be on the cards in this match -- Hamsik is coming into the match at less than full fitness, and the attack isn’t quite in the same form that it was at the time.

Cagliari are in better form too, having won three of their last five matches, meaning that they Napoli to make sure they take this match as seriously as the situation demands to get the result they need. And make no mistake: Napoli need this result, because finishing third simply isn’t good enough any more.

Don’t blow it. Please.

Lineups

Napoli: Reina; Hysaj, Albiol, Chiriches, Ghoulam; Zielinski, Jorginho, Hamsik; Callejon, Mertens, Insigne

Cagliari: Rafael; Pisacane, Salamon, Bruno Alves, Murru; Isla, Ionita, Barella, Padoin; Sau, Borriello

Watch It

When: Saturday, 6 p.m. CET, 12 p.m. ET

Where: Stadio San Paolo, Naples, Italy

TV: PremiumSport HD, Sky Calcio 1 (Italy)

Online: beIN Sports Connect (U.S.), BT Sport Live Streaming (U.K.), Sky Go Italia, Premium Play (Italy)