Final score

15 December 2013 20:45

Napoli
36' (2nd half) Callejon
41' Dzemaili
39' Mertens
9' Higuain
4 - 2
Inter
46' Nagatomo
35' Cambiasso
Referee: Paolo Tagliavento / Linesmen: Giallatini, Dobosz / Fourth official: Liberti / Assistants: Orsato, Doveri
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
47' The first half comes to a close. The Partenopei lead 3-2 at the break
46' GOAL FOR INTER: Guarin's shot escapes Rafael's clutches and Nagatomo is on hand to poke it in. Napoli 3-2 Inter, game on!
45' There will be two minutes of added time
41' GOAL FOR NAPOLI: Mertens strikes it, Handanovic can't hold it and Dzemaili taps into an empty net
39' GOAL FOR NAPOLI: Dzemaili steers it into the path of the onrushing Mertens who beats Handanovic with a neat finish. Napoli 2-1 Inter
35' GOAL FOR INTER: Cambiasso receives the ball in the middle of the box and places it into the corner. Great move, great goal
32' Inler is the next player in the book for Napoli. He picks up a yellow card for a nasty foul on Campagnaro
30' Chance for Inter: Palacio volleys over from a free-kick
29' First caution of the game: Insigne goes into the book
26' Good response from Inter: Alvarez fires in a low cross and Guarin is just beaten to it
25' Insigne hits the angle with a fierce right-footed drive
22' Guarin hammers it from the edge of the box; the ball fizzes just over the top
21' Inter are trying to create openings but Napoli are organised at the back
16' Corner for Inter: the ball is played out to Nagatomo who shoots from range. His right-footed effort is well-struck but Rafael is up to the task
11' Napoli pour forward again, as Mertens cuts inside and strikes it. Handanovic makes a comfortable save
9' GOAL FOR NAPOLI: Nagatomo heads the ball out but it drops to Higuain who volleys it home. 1-0 to the hosts
7' Inter work a corner short for Alvarez who finds Cambiasso with a low cross: El Cuchu fires over with his left
6' Lovely ball over the top for Palacio who is just beaten to it by Rafael
4' The two teams are feeling each other out in midfield. It's a tight game already, with Inter showing good intensity
1' Welcome along to the Stadio San Paolo for Napoli v Inter in Week 16 of Serie A 2013/14
1' The Nerazzurri kick off. Napoli v Inter is underway
1' Five across the middle with Jonathan, Taider, Cambiasso, Alvarez and Nagatomo. Guarin partners Palacio in attack
1' Here is the starting line-up for Walter Mazzarri: Handanovic in goal behind Campagnaro, Ranocchia and Rolando
Minute Text commentary
50' It's all over: Napoli 4-2 Inter
47' Ranocchia cautioned for the foul that led to the spot-kick
47' Handanovic guesses right and saves the penalty
47' Napoli penalty after Ranocchia fouls Pandev
46' Napoli change: Pandev is on for Reveillere
45' Dzemaili's shot flies just over
43' Cambiasso plays a nice ball through to Icardi: Rafael gets there first however
40' Third and final switch for Napoli: Mertens gives way to Armero
37' Inter change: Icardi replaces Campagnaro
36' GOAL FOR NAPOLI: Insigne fires it across the face of goal and Callejon is there to score. Napoli 4-2 Inter
33' Napoli substitution: Higuain makes way for Behrami
32' Inter are on top despite being down to ten men
27' Alvarez handballs and picks up a second yellow card: the Nerazzurri man is sent off
25' Palacio heads over from Alvarez's corner
21' What a chance for Inter: Palacio squares it for Guarin but Rafael makes a wonder save to deny him
16' First change for Inter: Kovacic is on for Taider
14' Callejon's shot skids just wide
10' Inter respond: Palacio receives the ball before feeding Nagatomo. Rafael saves the Japanese's low drive
9' Napoli come forward: Handanovic repels Insigne's shot
6' The Nerazzurri stroke it around nicely in the Napoli defensive third
4' Alvarez gets away down the right and crosses, Albiol clears and Napoli break. Rolando makes an excellent sliding challenge to deny Higuain
1' The game restarts with Napoli kicking off
1' First caution for the Nerazzurri: Ricky Alvarez picks up a yellow
Cambiasso
6.48
6.48
Ranocchia
4.08
4.08
Nagatomo
5.22
5.22
Alvarez
5.06
5.06
Jonathan
5.37
5.37
Guarin
5.83
5.83
Palacio
5.89
5.89
Handanovic
4.38
4.38
Kovacic
4.82
4.82
Campagnaro
4.14
4.14
Icardi
4.48
4.48
Rolando
5.26
5.26
Taïder
3.96
3.96
Average rating 5
5 shots on target 6
3 shots off target 4
13 fouls committed 12
5 corners 6
0 offsides 4
ball possession
Benitez v Mazzarri, round 1

Today sees the first contest between Rafa Benitez and Walter Mazzarri in a competitive match.

Benitez faces Inter as an ex for first time

Rafael Benitez has played Inter six times as a coach (all in international competitions) with the Spanish coach always in charge of non-Italian clubs. His record stands at three wins, one draw and two defeats (both 1-0 to Inter). Benitez was in charge of the Nerazzurri for a six-month spell from July to December 2010, winning an Italian Super Cup and the Club World Cup. Today Benitez is facing his former club for the first time since his brief reign at Inter.

And first time for Mazzarri against Napoli since leaving

Walter Mazzarri is also up against his ex-club for the first time since leaving the Azzurri, where he won the 2011/12 Coppa Italia during his four years in Naples (October 2009 to June 2013). His record against Napoli before then is W2, D2, L3. Until now Mazzarri's sides have not scored a single goal in four visits to the San Paolo, mustering a single 0-0 draw besides three defeats.

Napoli's lightning starts in 2013/14

Napoli have scored 41.9% of their goals (13 of 31) during the first half an hour of play this season, making them the most prolific side in that period: eight goals from the 1st to the 15th minute and five from the 16th to the 30th.

Almost half of Napoli's goals come from Higuain and Callejon

Gonzalo Gerardo Higuain and José Maria Callejon have between them netted just less than 50% of the goals Rafa Benitez's team have scored in their 21 competitive matches this season (15 in Serie A and six in the Champions League). Higuain has 11 to his name (seven in Serie A, four in the Champions League) and Callejon nine (seven and two), the pair thus weighing in with 20 of Napoli's 41 total goals.

Napoli's man advantage

The Partenopei have found themselves a man up during games more often than any other Serie A side in 2013/14: their opponents have had a player sent off on six occasions.

Nerazzurri seeking first win at the San Paolo since 1997

Inter have not tasted success away to Napoli since 18 October 1997, when Galante (10) and a Turrini own goal (69) saw them to a 0-2 victory in Serie A. In the nine league encounters played at the San Paolo since then, the hosts have won six and there have been three draws.

Inter's last defeat on the road? Against Mazzarri in Naples!

The Nerazzurri are unbeaten away from home since 5 May when they went down 3-1 at Napoli in Serie A. Since then, they've put together three wins and five draws on their travels – their longest unbeaten run away from San Siro since August-November 2012, when they racked up 10 straight wins.

Nerazzurri unbeaten in nine

Inter have not lost in nine competitive matches, winning four and drawing five. Their last loss (and only one this season) was against Roma in Serie A on 5 October (0-3 in San Siro). Should the Nerazzurri extend their unbeaten streak to ten games this evening, it would be their longest run without defeat since September-November 2012, when they put together 10 straight victories in Serie A and the Europa League.

Inter penalty-less in 2013/14

Fifteen matches into the 2013/14 Serie A campaign and Inter are still yet to be awarded a penalty. Only three other sides (Atalanta, Chievo Verona and Parma) have also not benefited from a spot kick this year. Inter's last shot from 12 yards was on 8 May in Inter 1-3 Lazio (Alvarez): that's 17 league matches without a penalty, a surprising statistic considering that Mazzarri's men are the Serie A's topscorers this term with 34 goals.

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(20) draws(22) defeats(39)

starting lineups

Rafael 1 1 Handanovic
Reveillere 2 14 Campagnaro
Callejon 7 23 Ranocchia
Higuain 9 35 Rolando
Maggio 11 2 Jonathan
Mertens 14 21 Taïder
Dzemaili 20 19 Cambiasso
Fernandez 21 11 Alvarez
Insigne 24 55 Nagatomo
Albiol 33 13 Guarin
Inler 88 8 Palacio

substitutes

Colombo 15 12 Castellazzi
Reina 25 30 Carrizo
Uvini 3 4 Zanetti
Britos 5 5 Jesus
6 Andreolli
Bariti 13 7 Belfodil
Pandev 19 9 Icardi
Radosevic 22 10 Kovacic
Armero 27 16 Mudingayi
Cannavaro 28 17 Kuzmanovic
Behrami 85 18 Wallace
Zapata 91 31 Pereira