Final score

2 March 2008 20:30

Napoli
3' Zalayeta
Inter
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli / Linesmen: Maggiani, Pirondini / Fourth official: Palanca
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
46' Zalayeta's early goal separates the two teams at the break. NAPOLI 1-0 INTER.
46' Zalayeta fires wide from the edge of the area with Lavezzi lurking unmarked. A let-off for Inter.
45' One minute of added time.
44' Napoli close to a second goal. Materazzi miskicks during an attempt at a clearance, forcing Julio Cesar into a tipped save.
38' Chivu's free kick is saved by Gianello.
38' Balotelli makes a central run on goal and wins us a free kick (30 yards from goal) after a foul by Santacroce.
36' Fantastic sliding tackle by Rivas on Gargano, who was put through by Hamsik. Corner for Napoli.
35' Maicon plays through Hamsik's legs, races into the box and crashes his right-foot shot into the sidenetting.
33' Supermario is okay to continue, and play resumes in Naples.
31' Balotelli remains on the ground after being elbowed in the face by Contini.
30' Mannini tries an overhead kick from the edge of the area. It's way off target.
29' Julio Cesar makes a superb diving save to keep out Cannavaro's header from Hamsik's cross.
28' Another Napoli counter at the San Paolo. Lavezzi tears down the left and crosses. Materazzi blocks, and it's a corner for the home side.
26' After a few minutes of Nerazzurri pressure, Napoli hit back, Hamsik testing Julio Cesar with a poked shot from the edge of the area.
24' Inter win a free kick 30 metres from goal. Figo's curling effort hits the Neapolitan wall.
22' Another chance for Inter. Suazo serves Balotelli, whose low shot is deflected behind for a corner. Zalayeta heads clear Chivu's left-wing corner.
19' Maicon combines with Balotelli just outside the Napoli area. The Brazilian threads through to Suazo who beats the offside trap and shoots. On his 200th appearance as a professional, Gianello saves with his feet.
17' Hamsik's outswinging free kick is headed clear by Materazzi. Lavezzi is right on to the loose ball, and narrowly misses with a low drive from 25 yards.
16' Cristian Chivu is yellow carded for a foul on Zalayeta. Free kick to Napoli 30 yards out on the left wing.
16' Hamsik pulls his low left-foot effort wide of Julio Cesar's left-hand post.
15' At the other end Luis Figo's left-wing free kick is cleared by Zalayeta.
14' Another chance for Napoli. Hamsik's floated shot from the edge of the area takes a deflection off Maniche. Lavezzi is roaming in the box but fails to get a touch. Nothing comes of the resulting corner.
11' Chivu's right-wing free kick sails over the heads of all and sundry, going out for a goal kick. Rizzoli blows for a Materazzi foul on Cannavaro.
8' Napoli hit us on the break after Maicon's pass is intercepted by Hamsik. Lavezzi collects, makes a darting diagonal run into the area and fires a low shot wide of the far post.
5' Mannini goes down in the box after contact with Pelé. The Stadio San Paolo roars 'rigore', but for Rizzoli it was a clean challenge.
3' Napoli take the lead through Zalayeta. The Uruguayan lobs into an open goal after a goalkeeping mistake by Julio Cesar. NAPOLI 1-0 INTER.
2' Early attack by the Neapolitans. Hamsik swings in a cross from the left. Materazzi beats Lavezzi to the ball and boots clear.
1' Welcome to the Stadio San Paolo in Naples for tonight's Serie A Week 26 clash.
1' Napoli kick off. FORZA INTER!!!
1' Team news:<br> Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 24 Rivas, 23 Materazzi, 26 Chivu; 14 Vieira, 30 Pelé, 28 Maniche; 7 Figo; 45 Balotelli, 29 Suazo.
1' Team news:<br> Napoli: 22 Gianello; 13 Santacroce, 28 P.Cannavaro, 96 Contini; 77 Mannini, 8 Blasi, 23 Gargano, 17 Hamsik, 19 Savini; 7 Lavezzi, 25 Zalayeta.
Minute Text commentary
51' Full time. Napoli send Inter to their first defeat of the Serie A season.
49' Napoli bring on Bogliacino for Hamsik.
47' Rivas is booked for kicking the ball at Savini.
47' Crespo is beaten to Balotelli's high cross from the right.
45' Five minutes of added time.
45' Nelson Rivas clears Hamsik's left-wing cross with a flicked header.
44' Gianello grasps Jimenez' inswinger from the left corner flag.
43' Suazo's curling cross from the right is caught by Gianello.
40' Clash of heads betwen Suazo and Contini just insdie the Napoli half.
38' Napoli bring on Grava for Mannini.
37' Julio Cesar is quick off his line to intercept Lavezzi's low pass for Zalayeta. The Brazilian hasn't put a foot wrong since Napoli's early opener.
35' Mannini is cautioned for tugging Zanetti's shirt.
34' Inter make their third change. Luis Jimenez replaces Luis Figo.
31' Materazzi and Zalayeta receive medical attention after a clash of heads.
30' Julio Cesar goes the right way and makes a diving save from Zalayeta's penalty kick.
29' After consulting his linesman, Rizzoli books the Inter keeper.
28' Penalty. Julio Cesar fouls Gargano in the box, and Rizzoli points to the spot.
27' Paolo Cannavaro makes a diving clearance to deny Crespo a close-range chance from Figo's cross.
27' Gianello gathers Maicon's cross into the six-yard box.
24' Crespo climbs in the box and fouls Santacroce when making headed contact with Maicon's right-wing centre.
21' Blasi is yellow-carded for a foul on Vieira.
18' Lavezzi looks for the top left corner with a curling shot from the left edge of the area. It's high and wide.
16' Napoli hit us on the break again. Lavezzi comes storming forward and lays off to Zalayeta. Javier Zanetti makes a superb interception.
8' Santacroce is booked for foul play.
8' Julio Cesar denies Hamsik with another great save.
7' Inter bring on Hernan Crespo for the injured Cristian Chivu.
6' Gianello graps Figo's cross from the right channel.
5' Napoli counter attack. Lavezzi fires wide from a tight angle after powering past Materazzi.
2' It's the same shoulder the Romania captain dislocated last September.
2' Chivu is unable to continue after injuring his left shoulder during a duel with Mannini.
1' Inter kick off the second half.
1' Mancini has made a tactical switch, bringing on Javier Zanetti for Maniche.
Zanetti
7.15
7.15
Materazzi
5.02
5.02
Crespo
5.51
5.51
Julio Cesar
7.24
7.24
Figo
5.3
5.3
Maicon
6.38
6.38
Vieira
5.41
5.41
Suazo
4.76
4.76
Jimenez
5.27
5.27
Rivas
5.61
5.61
Chivu
5.52
5.52
Pelé
4.35
4.35
Balotelli
5.29
5.29
Maniche
4.47
4.47
Average rating 5.52
5 shots on target 2
8 shots off target 1
13 fouls committed 16
6 corners 4
2 offsides 2
00 ball possession 00
Napoli v Inter

The teams have met in Naples on 65 previous occasions. There have been 29 Napoli wins (last victory 1-0 in 2000/01 Serie A), 18 draws (last draw 1-1 in 1996/97 Coppa Italia) and 18 Inter wins (last win 2-0 in 1997/98 Serie A).

Inter 3 away from 200th goal against Napoli

The Nerazzurri have scored 197 in their 132 competitive games against the Azzurri (129 goals at home, 66 away, 2 at neutral grounds). Antonio Blasevich scored Inter's first two goals against Napoli in a 2-1 Serie A home victory on 5 January 1930.

Reja v Mancini

The Inter coach is unbeaten in matches against his Napoli counterpart, with a win and a draw from two games.

Disciplinary situation


Squalificati: Domizzi (Napoli); Burdisso (Inter)
Diffidati: Gargano, Garics (Napoli); Cambiasso, Chivu, Cordoba, Materazzi, Vieira (Inter)

Azzurri's 12-game conceding streak

Napoli have conceded in their last 12 matches, letting in a total of 23 goals. The Azzurri's last match without conceding came on 9 December 2007 when they won 1-0 at home to Parma.

Napoli goalless once in last 22 home games

Napoli have failed to score in just one of their last 22 home matches (a 0-2 Serie A defeat against Cagliari last 26 August). In the other 21 (Serie A, B and Coppa Italia) matches they have scored a total of 34 goals.

Gianello set to make 200th appearance as professional

If he plays in Sunday's match against Inter, Matteo Gianello will make his 200th appearance as a professional. Gianello made his competitive debut in Chievo 4-0 Foggia (Serie B) on 24 March 1996. Besides the Gialloblu, he also also worn the shirts of Siena, Verona, Lodigiani and Napoli. The goalkeeper has played 9 times in Serie A, 128 in Serie B, 19 in Serie C1, 15 in Serie C2, 24 in Coppa Italia, and 4 in other tournaments.

Crespo's goals against Gianello

Hernan Crespo is one of two players currently playing Serie A football who have scored the most goals against Gianello (228 career goals conceded). The Argentine striker and Palermo's Fabrizio Miccoli have each put three past the Napoli keeper. All three of Crespo's goals against Gianello came in the two-legged 2001/02 Coppa Italia tie between Lazio and Siena (2 at the Olimpico, 1 at the Franchi).

Calaiò, Sosa most-used subs

Emanuele Calaiò and Roberto Carlos Sosa are the two most-used substitutes after 25 rounds of the 2007/08 Serie A championship. Both strikers have come on 15 times this season.

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(20) draws(22) defeats(39)

NAPLES - It's now four matches without a win as Italian champions Inter went down 1-0 against Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo.

Marcelo Zalayeta scored early on in a game that the home side dominated in stretches, sending the Nerazzurri to their first defeat of the Serie A season.

With Roma 4-0 winners over Parma in Saturday's game, Inter's lead at the top of the table is cut to six points.

Roberto Mancini made sweeping changes to the team that drew against the Giallorossi in midweek.

Materazzi returned in defence, with Vieira in midfield alongside a Portuguese trio of Figo, Maniche and Pelé.

Inter Primavera forward Balotelli partnered Suazo in attack to collect his sixth appearance for the first team.

Napoli made a storming start and took a third-minute lead when Zalayeta lobbed into an open goal after a rare mistake by Julio Cesar.

The ever-dangerous Lavezzi hit a couple of shots wide, with Hamsik and Cannavaro forcing saves from the Brazilian keeper as Napoli looked to build on their early lead.

Gianello blocked a close-range effort from Suazo, and Maicon crashed into the sidenetting as Inter looked for a way back in.

But the Neapolitans were relentless in their search for a second and almost got it on the stroke of half time when Julio Cesar made a tipped save to prevent an own goal from Materazzi.

Mancini made a tactical switch at half time, bringing on Javier Zanetti for Maniche.

He was forced to make a second change just minutes later when Chivu injured the shoulder he dislocated last September.

On came Hernan Crespo and Inter stuck with a 4-4-2 with Balotelli moving to the right wing.

Inter attacked to greater effect, Maicon combining well with Balotelli on the flank.

But it was Napoli who went closer and Inter had Julio Cesar to thank for a penalty save from Zalayeta in the 75th minute.

Napoli 1-0 Inter (HT: 1-0)

Scorer: Zalayeta 3.

Napoli: 22 Gianello; 13 Santacroce, 28 P.Cannavaro, 96 Contini; 77 Mannini (2 Grava 83), 8 Blasi, 23 Gargano, 17 Hamsik (18 Bogliacino 45+4), 19 Savini; 7 Lavezzi, 25 Zalayeta.
Subs not used: 30 Navarro, 3 Rullo, 4 Montervino, 11 Calaiò, 24 Dalla Bona.
Coach: Edy Reja.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 24 Rivas, 23 Materazzi, 26 Chivu (18 Crespo 52) ; 14 Vieira, 30 Pelé, 28 Maniche (4 Zanetti 46); 7 Figo (11 Jimenez 79); 45 Balotelli, 29 Suazo.
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 5 Stankovic, 21 Solari, 40 Fatic.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.

Referee: Rizzoli (Bologna).

Booked: Chivu 16, Santacroce 53, Blasi 66, Julio Cesar 74, Mannini 80, Rivas 90+2.

starting lineups

Gianello 12 Julio Cesar
Santacroce 13 Maicon
P.Cannavaro 24 Rivas
Contini 23 Materazzi
Mannini 26 Chivu
Blasi 14 Vieira
Gargano 30 Pelé
Hamsik 28 Maniche
Savini 7 Figo
Lavezzi 45 Balotelli
Zalayeta 29 Suazo

substitutes

Navarro 1 Toldo
Grava 4 Zanetti
Rullo 5 Stankovic
Montervino 11 Jimenez
Bogliacino 21 Solari
Dalla Bona 18 Crespo
Calaiò 40 Fatic