Inconsistency the problem at Napoli, can they hold on?
CHIEVO 0-0 NAPOLI N/A
NAPOLI 4-1 SAMPDORIA MERTENS, HAMSIK, CALLEJON X2
A.C. MILAN MERTENS X4
After a heartbreaking encounter against Manchester United, Napoli would now return to the Serie A with a frustrating inconsistency. The key to seeing out this title win would be to win game after game, and to keep the consistency which is quite obvious, but it is seemingly easier said than done with Napoli.
Their first game back would be played away at Chievo and after travelling hundreds of miles to England, they'd now be heading up to the north of Italy, where fatigue was really expected to kick in.
As expected, it clearly did. Although putting in a decent performance they just could not break the deadlock. Both teams had their fair share of good chances but it was Napoli who had the most and who were the best, but both strikers, Zapata and Higuain just couldn't find the net.
Thankfully for them, neither could Chievo and they managed to take away a point for this exciting run in for the title.
With a point at Chievo, it was an underachieving Sampdoria at home now and as expected Napoli did run out with the three points in the bag with a spectacular effort from everyone of their players.
Jose Callejon got the game going with a first minute goal, but Sampdoria responded well with goal from Eder, but then ten minutes later Callejon scored another, with a beautiful goal with a curling effort from just a little outside the outside the box on 18 minutes.
Dries Mertens, made it three with what must be his tenth goal from a free kick this season, and Sampdoria just couldn't react and dug themselves a deeper hole when Hamsik scored the fourth and last goal of the game late on, ten minutes before time.
Now, it was time for the big one. A.C. Milan vs Napoli, one of the biggest games this season, if Napoli won even with seven games left they'd be guaranteed the title, when you consider their form this season it is obvious they will pick up at least 15 points in 7. The teams they have to play include, Verona, Bologna, Udinese, and Torino.
It was Napoli who went up into the lead first in just two minutes. Mertens broke free of his defender and he was met by a lovely through ball from Stanciu, and he powered it into the top corner.
Not ten minutes later he scored again, with almost an identical goal as the last however this time it was Matuidi's through ball, 2-0 on 11 minutes it was. What a perfect start.
They lasted three minutes with their 2-0 cushion. Milan got themselves back into the game on 15 minutes through their star striker balotelli who pounced on a low cross from Kaka to make it 2-1, could they get back into it?
Well, they lasted less time than Napoli did with their lead, one minute later Mertens secured the fastest ever Napoli hattrick under Baggio in jut 16 minutes. He picked up the ball outside of the box and lashed one at the top corner, it needed help from the post but a goal is a goal and it was now 3-1.
Stunned by the exciting Napoli attack, (Or so it seemed) A.C. Milan looked dazed by the instant impact Mertens had on the game and it was thought that Napoli would get even more, and they did...Just not before Milan. A Napoli attack led to Kaka bursting out of his half when the clearance from Constant met the attacker, Robinho curled a quality through ball to Robinho and the striker beat Balanta for pace and he lobbed it over the keeper and into the net to make it 3-2. Napoli nearly saw themselves out into halftime 3-2 up, but had they not mistakenly let Balotelli through on goal to score a 3rd, what happened might next might never have occured.
Dries Mertens scored again 10 minutes into the second half latching onto a parried Callejon shot to make it 4-3 and Napoli were now looking even better than before, even in defense. They held out until the 81st minute but could not keep Milan out any longer and Ocampos scored the 8th goal of the game.
Now, as we all know, Napoli's disciplinary record has been shameful, certainly nothing to bost about and once again it came back to bite them on the arse when Behrami got picked up his 5th red of the season six minutes from time and A.C. Milan took advantage. Two minutes later a cross was whipped in and defender Constant was there to fire it in like a bullet. 5-4 was the final score.