Napoli-Rossonero (Giornata 37)

5) Roberto Sosa. Thi is Sosa’s last match at the San Paolo. While I normally put little credence into sentimentality, especially when it comes to decisons on who should or shouldn’t appear in matches, Sosa’s exit to his native Argentina next year provides an interesting backdrop. Pampa will leave Napoli to return to Gimnasia where he started his professional career. Despite a terrible mullet and a touch like a donkey, Pampa has become a fan favorite during his four year career at Napoli. Back in the dark ages of Napoli’s ressurrection the signing of Sosa marked a bit of watershed moment for the new “Napoli Soccer” squad. On the heels of President Aurelio De Laurentis’ takeover of the squad, Sosa was one of the first players signed by new/old Direttore Generale, PierPaulo Marino who recruited Sosa from Gimnasia in 1998 to lead Udinese to their rebirth they are still currently enjoying. Sosa’s workrate and ability to either knock long balls down onto attacking midfielders or, every once in a great while, stick one of those headers in the back of the net, won over the tifosi. He was also the last player to wear the #10 shirt before the jersey Diego Maradona made famous was retired. Sosa scored in that last match which helped to cement the fellow Argentine’s place in Napoli’s history. Sosa has received way more playing time than his skills warrant at this point, but this will be one occasion where it’s probably a fitting sendoff to someone who has given the club so much.

4) Milan in the house. For the first time since a nil-nil draw in the 2000/01 campaign, Napoli will host the rock stars that are A.C. Milan. Yes, they’re too old for their own good. And yes, they’ve had a disappointing season. And, of course, controversy follows them around like transvestite skanks looking to implicate world-famous footballers.  I don’t care about any of that.

This is the club that’s won 18 International titles including seven Champions League titles (second only to Real Madrid’s nine). This is the club that’s won 17 scudetti and five Coppa Italia trophies. This is the club of Franco Baresi, Marco Van Basten, five-time cappocannonieri and 2nd all-time Serie A goal scorer Gunnar Nordhal and, of course, the best left back football has ever seen in Paolo Maldini. Whenever the rossoneri come to your city, it’s an event. No offense but this isn’t Siena, Fiorentina or even Roma. Outside of ‘welcoming’ our northern rivals from Torino having Milan come to town is an event.

3) Revenge. Napoli were outclassed badly at the San Siro in the andata by Milan. Napoli barely hung on by their fingernails until the start of the second half when they just got steamrolled. Alexandre Pato’s debut in Serie A was made memorable not only for his goal but the way in which the 18-year showed his pace and composure against a frantic Napoli backline. It was one of those matches where although we were beaten 5-2, the scoreline in no way indicated Milan’s domination. Milan’s hopes of getting into the Champions League were nearly dead and buried before Napoli acted as the sacrificial lamb to reignite Milan’s campaign and give them their first victory at the San Siro. Since that point in the campaign, Milan have been on a roll going 12-4-5 while outscoring opponents at a 35-19 clip.

2) Champions League. Milan are in the last CL spot clinging onto a 1-point lead over Fiorentina going into the last two matches. Milan simply can’t afford a slip up on Sunday. La Viola host Parma who’ve yet to win a match away from home (0-7-11) and have been outscored by 20 (!) goals on the road. You’d have to say Fiorentina like their chances this weekend. A draw or a loss by Milan on Sunday could ruin all they’ve built up over the last four months.

1) Last home match of the season. Listen our first year in Serie A has been successful. It’s been turbulent and eventful. Up until a month ago, every match was like a gift. Being stuck in the middle of being too good to be relegated but not good enough for Europe makes for some long weeks. I found myself really looking forward to calciomercato and the EURO’s this summer. The last hurrah at home for this season should be fun as you know the partenopei will be filling up the San Paolo.

Probable lineups: (N 3-5-2: Navarro; Cannavaro, Contini, Domizzi; Mannini, Pazienza, Gargano, Hamsik, Savini; Sosa, Lavezzi) (M 4-3-2-1: Kalac; Bonera, Nesta, Kaladze, Jankulovski; Gattuso, Brocchi, Ambrosini; Kaka, Seedorf; Inzaghi)

Suspended/Injured: (Napoli): Santacroce, Blasi (for the 400th time) / Zalayeta, Rullo (Milan): Pirlo / Ronaldo, Maldini, Dida, Emerson

Diffidati: (Napoli): Garics, Blasi (spends his life one tackle away from either being suspended or actually being suspended), Domizzi, Hamsik (Milan): Nesta, Favalli, Oddo, Gattuso, Cafu

Referee: Stefano Farina. Napoli’s record with Farina is 4-3-4 and Milan’s is 23-3-9.

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Napoli look to be one step closer to their first signing of the offseason. Reports from a few different sources indicated we’ve signed 23-year old Right Back Tomas Costa from Rosario Central in Argentine. The transfer fee is said to be close to 4 million euro. Portuguese champions Porta and Roma were said to be interested in Costa. Marino is keeping mum on the topic though. Given the disaster around the Rolando Bianchi and Arturo Lupoli “signings” this past summer, I’d say that’s a good idea.