Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik has urged his team-mates to avoid any slip-ups between now and the end of the season as they look to secure a place in next season’s Champions League.
The Naples outfit host European hopefuls Lazio today looking to strengthen their grip on third place.
Rafael Benitez’s side have a nine-point advantage over nearest challengers Fiorentina and will be keen to preserve that, as well as make up for their 1-0 loss at Parma last time out with a win this weekend.
“We cannot afford any further slips if we are to hold on to third place,” Hamsik said.
“We have to give our all in our remaining six games in order to avoid having regrets at the end of the season. We have to make the most of our home games and I’m sure we will do well against Lazio.”
Napoli have won 10 and lost just two of their 16 games at the San Paolo stadium but will not take Lazio lightly and for good reason.
Lazio, coached by former Napoli tactician Edy Reja, have lost just two of their last eight games.
Moreover, the capital club have won their last two, including a 2-0 victory over Sampdoria last time out.
Reja’s men will have an added motivation to come out triumphant in Naples, for heading into the weekend they know that if results were to go their way in this round they would climb to fifth place.
Lazio began the weekend seventh in the standings, two points adrift of Parma and Inter. Inter hold fifth position, the last Europa League qualifying spot.
“We are going to Naples knowing we will face a very strong team,” Reja said.
“Napoli have done very well this season. It’s going to be difficult for us to come out triumphant but we will try.”
The visitors will be without Uruguay midfielder Alvaro Gonzalez and German striker Miroslav Klose.
Both players got hurt against Sampdoria and will be sidelined for a month with respective muscular injuries.
To complicate matters for Reja, Argentinian midfielder Lucas Biglia must serve a one-match ban.
Roma win
Second-placed Roma continued to apply pressure on leaders Juventus with a 3-1 at home to Atalanta last night.
Rodrigo Taddei and Adem Ljajic gave Roma a comfortable 2-0 lead before half-time.
Gervinho added a third before Giulio Migliaccio pulled one back for Atalanta 12 minutes from time.
Results
Serie A
Sassuolo 1
Zaza 36;
Cagliari 1
Ibraimi 47 pen;
HT: 1-0. Att: 10,000.
Roma 3
Taddei 6;
Atalanta 1
Migliaccio 78; Ljajic 44; Gervinho 63;
HT: 2-0. Att: 43,000.
P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
Juventus | 32 | 27 | 3 | 2 | 69 | 22 | 84 |
Roma | 33 | 24 | 7 | 2 | 68 | 19 | 79 |
Napoli | 32 | 19 | 7 | 6 | 59 | 33 | 64 |
Fiorentina | 32 | 16 | 7 | 9 | 51 | 34 | 55 |
Inter | 32 | 12 | 14 | 6 | 51 | 35 | 50 |
Parma | 32 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 52 | 41 | 50 |
Lazio | 32 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 42 | 40 | 48 |
Verona | 32 | 14 | 4 | 14 | 47 | 52 | 46 |
Atalanta | 33 | 14 | 4 | 15 | 38 | 44 | 46 |
Torino | 32 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 47 | 41 | 45 |
Milan | 32 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 49 | 44 | 45 |
Sampdoria | 32 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 40 | 45 | 41 |
Genoa | 32 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 35 | 41 | 39 |
Udinese | 32 | 11 | 5 | 16 | 35 | 44 | 38 |
Cagliari | 33 | 7 | 12 | 14 | 31 | 45 | 33 |
Chievo | 32 | 7 | 6 | 19 | 26 | 47 | 27 |
Bologna | 32 | 5 | 12 | 15 | 26 | 50 | 27 |
Livorno | 32 | 6 | 7 | 19 | 34 | 60 | 25 |
Sassuolo | 33 | 6 | 7 | 20 | 32 | 62 | 25 |
Catania | 32 | 4 | 8 | 20 | 24 | 57 | 20 |
Playing today
Bologna vs Parma - 12.30
Livorno vs Chievo
Napoli vs Lazio
Sampdoria vs Inter
Torino vs Genoa
Milan vs Catania - 20.45
Verona vs Fiorentina
Tomorrow
Udinese vs Juventus - 20.45
Next fixtures
Saturday: 15.00 Milan vs Livorno; Atalanta vs Verona; Catania vs Sampdoria; Chievo vs Sassuolo; Genoa vs Cagliari; Lazio vs Torino; Parma vs Inter; Udinese vs Napoli.
18.30 Juventus vs Bologna.
21.00 Fiorentina vs Roma.
Serie B
Avellino vs Brescia - 0-1
Crotone vs Carpi - 0-0
Empoli vs Ternana - 1-0
Latina vs Novara - 4-1
Modena vs Juve Stabia - 4-2
Pescara vs Cittadella - 1-1
Siena vs Lanciano - 1-0
Trapani vs Palermo - 0-1
Varese vs Bari - 0-1
Playing today
Padova vs Reggina - 12.30
Standings: Palermo 69; Empoli 56; Latina 54; Cesena, Crotone 52; Siena 51; Trapani 49; Modena, Avellino, Spezia, Lanciano 48; Brescia, Bari, Pescara 46; Carpi 44; Varese 43; Ternana 41; Novara 36; Cittadella 33; Padova 31; Reggina 27; Juve Stabia 16.