Bari vs Napoli preview - Mazzarri in optimistic mood

Posted Sunday, January 23, 2011 by PA

Napoli are looking to pile further misery on strugglers Bari in order to keep up the pressure on Serie A leaders AC Milan.

Walter Mazzarri's men expect to clinch their fifth win in seven games against rock-bottom Bari and reduce their current four-point deficit on AC Milan.

Napoli are joint second in Serie A, level on 37 points with Lazio after 20 games played.

Mazzarri and co have reason to be optimistic as they followed their goalless draw against Fiorentina with a 2-1 triumph over Bologna in midweek to reach the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.

"We can compete in all competitions," said Mazzarri, who has also led Napoli this season to the Europa League round of 32.

"We are humble and we have the determination to go far in all the competitions.

"We want to hand our fans great joy this campaign."

Napoli's reward for beating Bologna is a last-eight tie with Inter Milan.

Bari, meanwhile, crashed out of the Coppa Italia with a 3-0 defeat at AC Milan on Thursday.

"This was not the most important game for a team that is fighting to defend its Serie A status," admitted Bari coach Giampiero Ventura.

"Now we have a game against Napoli, a very difficult but important match for us."

Bari head into Sunday's match at the San Nicola stadium having clinched just one win in their last 15 league games.

Last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Juventus was their 12th loss of the campaign.

Giampiero Ventura's men lie at the foot of the standings, five points behind safety.

Lack of goalscoring has been Bari's main problem this season with the Galletti having the worst attack in the competition with just 13 goals scored in 20 games.