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Napoli logo
Europa League | Group Stage
Dec 11, 2014 at 8.05pm UK
 
Slovan Bratislava

3-0

Mertens (6'), Hamsik (16'), Zapata (75')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Preview: Napoli vs. Slovan Bratislava

Sports Mole peers ahead to Thursday night's Europa League tie as Napoli look to secure Group I's top spot with victory over Slovan Bratislava.

Although Napoli are just one point clear of third place in the Europa League's Group I, they are guaranteed to progress to the knockout stages as there is no set of results that will push them down out of the qualification places.

The Italian side are top of the group on 10 points, while Sparta Prague and Young Boys are in close pursuit on 10 and nine points respectively.

In two days' time they welcome Slovan Bratislava, who have lost all five games and conceded 17 goals while scoring just one. Napoli will be confident of a win and it's what they need to secure top spot.

However, they have drawn four games in a row in all competitions and are without a win in a month.

Anything other than a Napoli victory will given Sparta and Young Boys the opportunity to seize first place and avoid the top seeds in the first round of knockout ties.

The reverse fixture finished 2-0 in Napoli's favour, with Marek Hamsik scoring against his first club whom he left to join Napoli seven years ago.

Napoli:

Form in Europa League: DWWLWD
Form in all competitions: WWDDDD

Possible starting lineup: Rafael; Maggio, Henrique, Albiol, Britos; Jorginho, David Lopez; Callejon, Hamsik, Mertens, Higuain

Slovan Bratislava:

Form in Europa League: LLLLL
Form in all competitions: WWLLWW

Possible starting lineup: Pemis; Kolcak, Hudak, Gorosito, Cikos; Grendel, Stefanik; Peltier, Halenar, Kubik; Soumah

Sports Mole says: 4-0


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Written by
Pascal Lemesre
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Gonzalo Higuain of Napoli celebrates after scoring his team's opening goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio San Paolo on November 23, 2014
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