Napoli vs Cagliari preview - De Sanctis targeting top-three finish
Posted Sunday, March 20, 2011 by PA
Napoli goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis has urged his team-mates to give their all as they look to strengthen their grip on third place in Serie A.
Walter Mazzarri's men go into the match against Cagliari at the San Paolo stadium on the back of a 3-1 triumph at Parma.
The result left Napoli in third, three points clear of red-hot Udinese.
With nine round of games to go, De Sanctis knows his side cannot afford to take their foot off the pedal.
"Our aim is to finish among the top three teams," De Sanctis said.
"In order for us to achieve that, we have to try to extend our gap with Udinese, who are enjoying a great run of form.
"It would be very important for us to qualify directly to the Champions League without having to go through the preliminary round.
"We just have to give everything we have in each game and not get obsessed by the results of the other teams."
Napoli take on a Cagliari side that was on the receiving end of a 4-0 mauling by Udinese last time out.
The result dropped the Sardinian outfit to 10th in the standings.
"We were handed a lesson by Udinese," Cagliari coach Roberto Donadoni said. "I hope my players learn from it and not make the same mistakes against Napoli.
"Otherwise, we risk losing this game by the same margin."
Cagliari have collected just two wins in their last six games
but a draw at the San Paolo would be sufficient to guarantee Donadoni's side Serie A football next season.
Normally 40 points is the magic figure that clubs aim for at the start of the campaign and ahead of Sunday's match, Cagliari have 39 in the bank.
Napoli will be bolstered by the return of Andrea Dossena and Salvatore Aronica from suspension.
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