Chievo vs Napoli preview - Benitez wary of Chievo

Posted Friday, August 30, 2013 by PA

Napoli head coach Rafael Benitez has warned that Chievo will be a completely different proposition as the Spaniard looks to keep his players grounded after a strong start.

The Azzurri finished as runners-up to Juventus last season and, after strengthening significantly with the signings of Gonzalo Higuain, Jose Callejon and Raul Albiol among others, the southern club laid down an early marker with a convincing 3-0 home victory over Bologna.

But while his players celebrated, Benitez retreated to watch footage of Chievo's performance at Parma, where they frustrated their hosts in a goalless draw while menacing the home defence with several swift breaks.

So when asked for a word to describe Saturday night's game, the former Liverpool and Chelsea boss told his club's official website: "Difficult.

"I've already seen that Chievo are a tough side, one that's hard to beat, who are very solid tactically and that have a quick counter-attack.

"We shall go there to fight and it will be a different situation compared to the game last Sunday.

"We were good against Bologna but now we have to be ready to immerse ourselves in another challenge. We shall go to Verona with the right mindset.

"Just saying that we'll win means nothing, we have to prove it on the field."

Higuain has returned to training after suffering a facial injury while on a short break in Capri and will be fit to feature on Saturday, while fellow striker Duvan Zapata is among Benitez's options after joining from Estudiantes.

The Azzurri boss added: "We still have to improve both our performances and our physical conditioning. I think we're at about 70 per cent of our capabilities.

"We want to become a team of players that controls games. Everybody must be ready to play and he who trains and prepares well can decide games."

Chievo coach Giuseppe Sannino, meanwhile, has one injury concern in the form of defender Dario Dainelli.

Following the draw in Parma, Sannino said: "We all know that ours will be a difficult campaign and the battling spirit we showed here is the one Chievo must always show.

"It will be a tough season and we all know what we're going up against, game after game."

Napoli hate the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi having lost there three times in a row, with Chievo most recently grabbing a 2-0 victory in March.