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Apr 26, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
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Live Commentary: Inter Milan 0-0 Napoli - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's text commentary of the Serie A match between Inter Milan and Napoli at the San Siro.
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Inter Milan and Napoli have played out a goalless draw in their Serie A match at the San Siro.

In an open first half Jose Callejon fired wide for the visitors while Mateo Kovacic and Rodrigo Palacio both tested Reina.

Napoli came close to snatching the win in the second half when Gokhan Inler fired against the post.

Gonzalo Higuain was stretchered off for the visitors in the closing stages as the two teams settled for a point.

Find out how the action unfolded blow.


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Good evening and thank you for joining Sports Mole for live text commentary of the Serie A match between Inter Milan and Napoli at the San Siro. It is third meets fifth as two of Italian football's biggest clubs battle it out to secure spots in Europe for next season.

Napoli are almost guaranteed a place in the Champions League play-off round, but three points today would mean that fourth-placed Fiorentina have no chance of catching them. Meanwhile, Inter are ahead in the race to qualify for the Europa League, but need to be wary of a strong finish from neighbours AC Milan and Parma. The bare minimum from Walter Mazzarri's men is a finish inside the top five, in what has been a largely inconsistent season.

INTER MILAN XI: Handanovic, Campagnaro, Ranocchia, Andreolli, D'Ambrosio, Hernanes, Cambiasso, Kovacic, Nagatomo, Palacio, Icardi

NAPOLI XI: Reina, Henrique, Albiol, Britos, Ghoulam, Inler, Jorginho, Mertens, Callejon, Insigne, Higuain

INTER MILAN SUBS: Castellazzi, Carrizo, Zanetti, Guarin, Kuzmanovic, Taider, Botta, Milito

NAPOLI SUBS: Colombo, Doblas, Reveiller, Mesto, Hamsik, Zuniga, Dzemaili, Radosevic, Behrami, Pandev, Zapata

TEAM NEWS: Inter have been hampered by defensive problems in the lead up to tonight's match. Rolando and Walter Samuel are both suspended, while Juan Jesus is ruled out through injury. It means that Marco Andreolli, Andrea Ranocchia and Hugo Campagnaro are chosen as the back three. In attack, Rodrigo Palacio and Mauro Icardi continue to lead the line with support coming from Hernanes.

Meanwhile for Napoli, Gonzalo Higuain is back from suspension and joins Lorenzo Insigne and Jose Callejon in a front three with Dries Mertens, Jorginho and Gokhan Inler making up the midfield. Federico Fernandez is suspended after being sent off last weekend, so Miguel Britos comes into the defence.

A real problem for Inter this season has been their form at home. They haven't won their last three matches at the San Siro and have drawn eight games there so far this campaign. In fact, they have drawn 14 league games this season, which is the most out of any team in Italy. Inter's record of six defeats is the same as Napoli's, but a real lack of clinical finishing has scuppered their hopes of title challenge.

The Nerazzurri arguably need the points more, as failure to qualify for Europe could cost Walter Mazzarri his job. A real problem could be if they don't get off to a fast start or if Napoli take an early lead. The home fans at the San Siro have made their frustrations clear this season, with players such as Fredy Guarin in particular singled out for a perceived lack of effort.

When the two teams met back in December, that match ended in a 4-2 win for Napoli. With two of Serie A's top goalscorers on the pitch we could be in for a similar level of entertainment, as Gonzalo Higuain and Rodrigo Palacio look to add to their impressive records this season.

PREDICTION: Inter and Napoli have scored 121 goals between them in Serie A this season and it's hard to see there not being a few more added this evening. The Nerazzurri have found the back of the net 10 times in their last four matches, but their defensive problems could scupper hopes of a win this evening. Napoli will be hoping that nobody gets injured ahead of next weeks' cup final, but I still expect them to attack Inter from the start. It should be an entertaining watch and I think that the game will end in a 2-2 draw.

The players are making their way out of the tunnel and onto the pitch, with kick off just moments away.

KICKOFF! We are underway at the San Siro!

Napoli almost score right from the kick off! Callejon is picked out at the back post and he looks to pull the ball across for Higuain, but he gets underneath it and puts it just wide of Handanovic's goal.

The lively start to this match continues as Hernanes picks the ball up in space before firing in a strike that he hits straight at Reina, with the keeper comfortably holding on.

Inter are seeing a lot of the ball in the opening stages and are confidently keeping possession between their midfielders. They then almost get in behind as Kovacic tries a defence splitting pass down the right, but it is just too far in front of D'Ambrosio and drifts out of play.

CHANCE! It is end to end at the moment and Inter manage to break quickly from a Napoli attack. The ball is eventually played to Hernanes who lets fly from range, but sees his shot beaten away by Reina.

CHANCE! The hosts work another shooting chance as Kovacic skips away from a couple of challenges just outside the box, before lashing in an effort that Reina tips round the post at full stretch.

The home fans can have no complaints about how their side have started this evening. They have taken the game to Napoli and look extremely positive in attack. One thing Mazzarri will want is for them to score whilst on top.

CHANCE! Well, having spoken about Inter's good start to the match Napoli should be ahead. Callejon is picked out with a ball over the top, but can only divert his first-time strike wide. Handanovic was left rooted to the spot and could just watch as the ball drifted agonizingly past the post.

The match has just settled down slightly following that blistering start, but there is still plenty of space in the midfield and down the flanks for each team to expose.

CHANCE! Great play from Palacio who collects the ball just inside the Napoli half, before driving towards goal. He has the pace to get away from the defence, but his low drive from the edge of the box goes just wide of the far post with Reina well beaten.

Napoli win a free kick just outside the box following a clumsy tackle by Cambiasso. Mertens then steps up to take the set piece, but he ends up curling his effort just over the top left hand corner.

Napoli look extremely dangerous on the counter attack and following a quick break Callejon is freed down the right. He has time and space to go for goal, but opts to pull the ball back for Higuain, but the pass is slightly behind the striker and Inter are able to clear.

Inter win a free kick in a similar position to Napoli's moments ago, but Kovacic fires his low effort straight into the gloves of the keeper. At the other end Napoli are close with a long-range strike from Inler that Handanovic gets down to beat away.

The shots continue to fly in on goal and Ghoulam tries his luck from range, with a fierce effort that goes just wide of the post.

YELLOW CARD! This is a slightly controversial booking. Britos drags down Palacio just outside the box and is booked, but it appeared that he was the last man. The Napoli man has definitely got away with one there.

From the resulting set piece Palacio steps up and bends in a low strike that is again too close to the keeper and comfortably saved by Reina.

The hosts put together a wonderful team move, with Hernanes exchanging passes with Cambiasso on the edge of the box. The ball is eventually fed through to Icardi, who has time to shoot on his right foot, but opts to shift it onto his left and ends up being tackled.

Inter's forwards are causing the Napoli defence a lot of problems and Palacio sees a shot well blocked after good work from Icardi. The Argentine duo have scored plenty of goals recently and will be looking to make the difference this evening.

CHANCE! Inler looks like he is going to strike from range at every chance he gets and his latest effort from 25 yards out heads just over the bar.

YELLOW CARD! Henrique is booked for the visitors after dragging Palacio down, with the striker charging towards goal.

Inter again put together a good passing move, but a promising attack comes to an end when Nagatomo's cross from the left fails to find any of his teammates in the box. They have worked some good openings in this match, but are not clinical enough in the final third so far.

Kovacic slides a brilliant ball into the box that Icardi latches onto, but the striker fires the ball high over the bar. It wouldn't of counted had he found the net though, as the flag was correctly raised for an offside.

HALF-TIME: Inter Milan 0-0 Napoli

The referee decides against adding any stoppage time and brings the half to an end, with the game still goalless. It has been a very watchable 45 minutes, with plenty of chances for both sides and positive attacking football despite the scoreline.

I know I promised goals before this match, but that is one of the best goalless first halfs of football you could hope to see. Both teams have managed eight attempts on goal, with Napoli only managing to hit the target once. Inter have slightly shaded the possession with 52% of the ball in what has been an even affair.

As things stand, Inter will move six points clear of Parma and AC Milan in the Serie A table and strengthen their grip on fifth place. As for Napoli, they would move eight points above fourth-place Fiorentina and would still need a win to make sure of third spot.

Inter may look back on that first half and feel that Britos should have been shown a red card. He did seem to be the last man, with the covering defender nowhere near the ball. The last time the sides met Inter went down to 10 men after Ricky Alvarez had been sent off and Napoli were able to ease to a 4-2 win.

The players are all back out on the pitch and we will back underway shortly.

Inter take the kick off and get the second half started.

CHANCE! I'm not quite sure how Napoli haven't scored. Firstly, Higuain gets onto Inler's pass before seeing his powerful strike blocked by Nagatomo, before Mertens drills a shot across the six-yard box that goes just wide of the far post.

CHANCE! It is Inter's turn to come close, as Palacio gets in front of Reina at the near post to meet Nagatomo's cross, but flicks his header wide of the post.

After some unconvincing goalkeeping moments ago, this time Reina comes out and punches a Nagatomo cross clear, but clatters his teammate Albiol in the process. The Spanish defender is down at the moment and receiving treatment.

Albiol is back on for Napoli and looks fine to continue with his side in possession of the ball and keeping it well between their midfielders.

The second half has lacked the intensity of the first half with the pace of the game noticeably slower. Inter are still having the slightly better of the play as Hernanes lets fly with a long range effort that goes well wide of the goal.

YELLOW CARD! Hernanes is the first Inter player of the evening to pick up a card for a foul from behind on Inler.

Icardi has a sight of goal when he meets Hernanes's corner and heads the ball wide of the post. After making connection with the ball, he looks to have landed awkwardly and is down in some real discomfort.

SUBSTITUTION: Inter make their first change of the evening with Zanetti coming on for D'Ambrosio.

SUBSTITUTION: Napoli also make a change to their lineup, as Hamsik comes on for Mertens.

Both teams are struggling to create chances at the moment, with the forward players unable to get in behind the defence. You sense that both managers would he happy with a draw at this stage rather than risking a defeat in search of the three points.

CHANCE! Higuain almost produces a moment of brilliance, as he turns Campagnaro on the edge of the box and with just the keeper to beat he blasts a strike high over the bar. A players of his standard should be testing the keeper from that range.

SUBSTITUTION: It's a second change for Inter as Guarin replaces Hernanes.

It seems that the visitors are keen to play for a draw, as they win a corner kick and instead of playing it into the box, they work it all the way back to their keeper. The onus is surely on Inter to go for the win in front of their home fans.

Jorginho is the latest in a long list of players to shoot from range this evening, but his effort flys well wide of the target.

Hamsik causes a real moment of panic in the Inter defence as he gets free down the right, before driving a teasing low ball across the six-yard box. Unfortunately for him, none of his teammates had made the run and Inter are able to clear the danger.

SUBSTITUTION: Inter make their final change of the match, with Kuzmanovic replacing Icardi.

CHANCE! Nagatomo comes close for Inter, as he cuts in from the left, before seeing his low drive well saved by Reina.

OFF THE POST! Almost immediately Napoli break quickly and Inler is found on the edge of the box. He manages to shift the ball past the defence and works himself some space to shoot, but can only fire his low effort against the post.

Napoli could have a real problem, as Higuain is down following a challenge from Andreolli. The Inter man won the ball, but made contact with the Argentine who looks like he won't be able to continue.

SUBSTITUTION: Higuain is stretchered off the pitch, with former Inter player Pandev coming on.

We are going to have five minutes of stoppage time.

Inter come close as Guarin is slipped in down the right by Cambiasso, but his ball into the box is easily cut out at the front post.

FULL-TIME: Inter Milan 0-0 Napoli

The game comes to an end, with Inter Milan and Napoli unable to find the back of the net. The headline of this match may well be the injury that Higuain suffered in the closing stages, which could keep him out of next week's cup final and maybe even the World Cup.

Both teams will probably be happy with a point that helps them in their aspirations for European football. Napoli almost have third spot secured, while Inter lead the race in the Europa League battle.

That's all we've got time for here. Make sure you stay with Sports Mole for today's results and the latest breaking news. I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend. Goodbye!

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Written by
Alex Meyers
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atalanta BCAtalanta17131342192340
2Napoli17122326121438
3Inter Milan16114142152737
4Lazio1711153224834
5Fiorentina1694329131631
6Juventus17710028131531
7Bologna167722318528
8AC Milan167542516926
9Udinese177282126-523
10Roma175482323019
11Empoli174761619-319
12Torino175481722-519
13Genoa173771426-1216
14Lecce174491129-1816
15Parma173682333-1015
16Como173681830-1215
17Hellas VeronaHellas Verona1750122140-1915
18CagliariCagliari173591628-1214
19VeneziaVenezia1734101730-1313
20Monza171791523-810


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