Although they have done excellently in the Europa League - having arrived there after failing to get out of the play-off rounds in the Champions League - the same cannot be said about Napoli at domestic level. The inability of the Partenopei to maintain the same level of consistency in Serie A has some fans concerned about the team's abilities to compete on more than one front.
Whilst earlier this season they were well in contention for a Champions League spot next campaign, some indifferent performance against smaller and lower-ranked clubs means that valuable points have been dropped when they should have been earned.
Still, thanks to being in the final four of the Europa League and based on their current league standing, they, at the very least will have some European football next term. They, naturally, will want to earn maximum points against AC Milan, especially with a glance at this table and given their opponents' bad form as of late:
With Roma proving to be even more unpredictable than others, Rafa Benitez's men do still have a shot at securing Champions League football, although the Spaniard will have to do without the likes of Juan Zuniga, Ivan Strinic and Jonathan de Guzman due to injuries.
Of the teams in the top half, Napoli and Milan have the worst defensive records, having conceded 43 and 42 goals respecively. Their 133 prior meetings have finisehd as 54 wins for the Rossoneri and 36 victories for the Partenopei, but the hosts have only lost one out of their last seven Serie A matches against their visitors, with three wins and three draws.
Given that they have only earned five points in their last quintet of games, the struggling Diavolo are frustrating fans with their poor performances and Filippo Inzaghi, who took over after his ex-teammate Clarence Seedorf was sacked this last summer, is certainly feeling the strain. However, after having the team remain at Milanello for a special training retreat, the coach and team's supporters will be indeed keeping an eye on how - if at all - this will influence their performance later today.
"Playing at the San Paolo could be good for us...but we have to make sure we play a good game. I am curious to see the guys' reaction after two straight defeats," the former striker mused in his pre-match press conference.
With just one win in his last five games, including back-to-back losses against Udinese and Genoa, Pippo Inzaghi again finds himself under heavy scrutiny
As things stand, another season without European football set to be their fate, unless if they somehow manage a remarkable turn-around and hope for some of their rivals to start stumbling. But first, they will have to find a way past Napoli, who they beat 2-0 at the San Siro in the reverse fixture earlier this season sans the services of Jeremy Menez.
The French international, whose 16 goals see him as the team's top goal-scorer is set to serve a four match ban after his outburst following his dismissal during the Rossoneri's 3-1 loss to Genoa. Philippe Mexes and Ignazio Abate will also miss out due to suspension.
In their last 66 meetings at the Stadio San Paolo, the Partenopei have won 24 times versus the Diavolo's 22. Given the leaky back-lines of both teams this season, fans and calcio neutrals should expect goals in this one. The last time a Napoli vs. AC Milan match ended without a goal was over three years ago - on February 5, 2012.
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