AC Milan vs Napoli - Napoli in good nick for San Siro trip
Posted Saturday, October 03, 2015 by PA
Confidence is soaring in the Napoli camp ahead of Sunday's match at AC Milan.
The Naples outfit heads into the clash at the San Siro after a 2-1 win over Juventus and a 2-0 Europa League triumph at Legia Warsaw in midweek.
Against Legia, Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri made seven changes to the side that won against Juve but his team nevertheless played well and clinched their second win in Group D.
"This victory is down to the whole group," Sarri told his club's official website.
"Those that have played less started against Legia and they played a great game. It's really satisfying to have won this game, not just for the result but to see that despite the changes that I made to the starting XI, the team did not lose its identity.
"The performance was a good one and I've seen the right mentality from everyone."
Thursday's win was Napoli's first on the road this season.
Napoli made a poor start to the Serie A campaign under Sarri, who replaced the departed Rafa Benitez this summer.
They did not win any of their first three league games but since thrashing Lazio 5-0 last month, Napoli have looked more dangerous. They have scored 14 goals and given away just one in their last five games in all competitions.
Napoli are 10th in the standings, level on nine points with Milan, who are 11th.
"This is a very important game, not just because of who we face and the history the two clubs have," Sarri said.
"This is a game between two teams that don't know yet how far they can go this season. Sunday's game could be an indication in that respect."
Milan go into the contest after a 1-0 defeat at Genoa in the last round.
"We have a capable coach in (Sinisa) Mihajlovic," AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I'm confident that we will soon get important results once the new players have adapted to the team's tactics.
"I believe we will have the possibility to qualify for next season's Champions League, a necessary aim for the club's projects."
Milan, who have won their opening two home games, have not kept a clean sheet in any of their six games this season.
Sarri will have all of his players available.
Gonzalo Higuain, who has scored four goals in his team's last four games, will lead Napoli's attack.
The hosts are without injured trio Ignazio Abate, Jeremy Menez and M'Baye Niang while midfielder Alessio Romagnoli is suspended.
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