Novara Calcio vs Napoli preview - Inler wants to continue momentum

Posted Sunday, December 11, 2011 by PA

Napoli midfielder Gokhan Inler has called on his team to round off their successful week on a high note at Novara on Saturday.

Goals from Inler and Marek Hamsik handed the Partenopei a 2-0 triumph at Villarreal on Wednesday to secure them a place in the knockout phase of the Champions League for the first time.

The result followed last weekend's 4-2 victory over Lecce - their fifth win in Serie A this term - and Inler wants his side to continue the momentum this weekend.

"We played a great game at Villarreal and we are delighted to be through to the next round," said Inler, who celebrated his first goal for the club in midweek since joining Napoli from Udinese this summer.

"We are strong and we can still grow.

"Now we must focus in the league and not obsess about who our next rivals will be in the European competition."

Walter Mazzarri's men have not won on the road in Serie A since beating Inter Milan 3-0 on October 1.

Since then, they have mustered two points of a possible nine on their travels.

With Napoli ending the year with home games against Roma and Genoa, Mazzarri will be hoping his players can stop the rot on the road at the Stadio Silvio Piola.

Rivals Novara head into the match on the back of a 3-0 defeat at Lazio.

The result left Novara in 18th place, four points adrift of safety.

Novara coach Atillio Tesser expects a big improvement from his players this weekend.

"The game against Lazio was our worst display of the season," Tesser said. "You pay the price for being scared when taking on the big teams.

"I have to say that it was the first match this season where we went into a game with the wrong mentality.

"We took a backwards step and that was disappointing because I thought we had got past the period of allowing pressure to affect us.

"I expect a better performance on Sunday."