Napoli thrive on back of Cavani
Starved of service but also seemingly scared to shoot, Torres is literally a misfit.
Cavani, by contrast, is back to his best. Two goals in Florence on Saturday night, both set up by the clever passing of Marek Hamsik, brought his total for the season to 19. Ezequiel Lavezzi added a third in stoppage time with a brilliant run from midfield.
Napoli’s front three were aided by some poor Fiorentina defending, but they look to be bang in form.
Cavani was taken off 20 minutes from the end to the applause of the home support as well as the travelling fans — most unusual in Italy, especially for a foreign player.
But Fiorentina fans remember their own South American hero.
Cavani ‘Il Matador’ has something of Gabriel Batistuta about him, and not just that long hair.
Napoli used not to win in Florence except once every 20 years or so. Two wins and a draw since Walter Mazzarri took over are further evidence of the transformation he’s achieved. This one was sweet because Fiorentina have been playing well but there was a hint of bitterness in his post-match comments about the UEFA ban that keeps him away from his players for both the Chelsea games.
Napoli start favourites for the tie because of Chelsea’s wretched recent form, but that ban from the touchline and dressing room is a blow, even though the manager insists “there is no need to charge up the players for a game of this importance”.
Napoli’s greatest European night was winning the UEFA Cup 23 years ago in the days of Maradona. Their best performance in the European Cup was in 1990, when they failed to score against Spartak Moscow in the second round and went out on penalties.
This is the moment the club and the city have been waiting for.
Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis, boss of Italy’s film industry and nephew of the man who produced thrillers such as Three Days of the Condor and The Valachi Papers, could have written the script.
The build-up has been going on for months and Milan’s thumping win against Arsenal last week has obviously fuelled expectations. This is the chance for Italian football to put itself firmly back on the map, and for Napoli fans putting Naples back on the map means even more.
So while the team will be lifted by the support of Italy’s most passionate crowd it could be an occasion that demands cool heads. The players lack the experience that comes from regular Champions League football, even if several have played in big matches for their countries.
Mazzarri has given his side self-belief and determination but this match will also provide a real tactical test. Playing with three at the back is unusual, even in Italy, and rare in Europe, even though Barcelona this season are making it more fashionable.
Mazzarri has stuck to his 3-4-3 formation throughout most of his career. It is demanding for the full-backs and especially for the player in the middle of the back three, who needs some of the characteristics of the old-fashioned libero.
Paolo Cannavaro, the Napoli captain and brother of the more famous Fabio, is such as player, but he is likely to be without the experience of Hugo Campagnaro alongside him.
On the other hand, the evolution of Napoli’s attack could cause Chelsea real problems. This season Mazzarri has tweaked his formation, which starts out more like a 3-4-2-1 than a 3-4-3. Hamsik usually operates down the right, Lavezzi on the left, but recently Cavani has often switched to the left, allowing Lavezzi the space to cut inside and stay forward even when Napoli lose possession.
This fine-tuning has meant more work for Cavani, covering back to protect the left side of midfield, but it has added an unpredictable edge to a very mobile attack. Whether it will work as well without the coach on the touchline remains to be seen.
