Italian club Napoli took a major step towards securing the third spot in the Italian Serie A after a convincing 2-0 win over Palermo in the midweek round of matches. Napoli are currently in a battle with the likes of Lazio, Udinese, Inter Milan, and – to a certain extent – Roma. They were taking on the relegation threatened Palermo in the midweek round of matches knowing that a win could take them into the third position. This is the final spot for getting the Champions League next season in Italy. Udinese managed to overcome Lazio a few days earlier with a 2-0 victory. Napoli achieved the same against Palermo to put them in the third spot.
Napoli had a wonderful Champions League campaign this season and almost eliminated the finalists Chelsea from the competition. However, the Champions League distraction has provided the opportunity for other clubs to enter into the race for the third position, but Napoli have finally overcome the demons of the Champions League exit by coming into form at just the right stage in the season. Only two matches remaining the Italian Serie A this season and Napoli are the favourites to qualify for the Champions League next season via the automatic spot.
Edison Cavani and Marek Hamsik once again proved to be the difference for Napoli, as they scored two goals to get three points against a team threatened against relegation. “We’re better now, we’ve got better concentration, we’ve rediscovered certain values. We can’t afford many mistakes now or we’ll compromise what we’ve built these last few weeks,” Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri said after the match. It is now in Napoli’s hands to finish in the third position. Walter Mazzarri has said that he does not want any slipups from his club at this stage of the season.