Napoli to seal their spot...just...
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/ Michael Lintorn / 07 December 2011 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market
That's why Saturday's 4-2 dismissal of Serie A strugglers Lecce was so encouraging... Napoli triumphed when widely fancied to.
Michael Lintorn sees heartbreak ahead for Manchester City when Napoli take on Villareal in an attempt to seal their spot in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Match odds: Villarreal [5.2], Napoli [1.8], The Draw [3.8]
As one of the punters who rather optimistically backed Napoli for Champions League glory at the start of the season, this supposedly routine trip to hapless Villarreal is proving more nerve-wracking than either of the clashes with Manchester City.
Walter Mazzarri's men have done the hard work, but in recent times it has been the more straight-forward tasks that they have managed to bungle. They've dropped points to five clubs below them in Serie A and blew a two-goal lead late on against Juventus eight days ago.
Add in the unwelcome trends whereby they haven't kept a clean sheet in four games, are winless in four on the road and have won successive fixtures only once this term and cause for concern exists despite odds of [1.8] on the Azzurri seeing the job through.
That's why Saturday's 4-2 dismissal of Serie A strugglers Lecce was so encouraging, even if a stroll should have been expected. For the first time since their opening match of the campaign at Cesena, Napoli triumphed when widely fancied to.
Opta reveal that no Italian team has ever claimed victory at El Madrigal, however, they also note that just two of the first 38 European visitors did, and that didn't stop Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
Villarreal can't do anything right at the moment. They remain pointless and any desire to be party-poopers is countered by knowledge that domestic improvement must be prioritised after falling nine points shy of the Europa League places. The Yellow Submarine have won only twice in 14 matches.
Given that his side have conceded five goals in their last two games - both at home - and have kept just one Champions League clean sheet, this isn't likely to be as comfortable as Mazzarri is hoping. Over 2.5 goals at [2.08] and 2-1 Napoli at [9.2] both offer appeal.
Best Bet: Napoli to win @ [1.8]
Other Recommended Bet: Over 2.5 goals @ [2.08]
