NAPLES - As we wait for this evening's Serie A meeting at the Stadio San Paolo, here are a few numbers to preview this match-up between Napoli and Inter. Statisitcs courtesy of Football Data.
Napoli's lightning starts in 2013/14
Napoli have scored 41.9% of their goals (13 of 31) during the first half an hour of play this season, making them the most prolific side in that period: eight goals from the 1st to the 15th minute and five from the 16th to the 30th.
Almost half of Napoli's goals come from Higuain and Callejon
Gonzalo Gerardo Higuain and José Maria Callejon have between them netted just less than 50% of the goals Rafa Benitez's team have scored in their 21 competitive matches this season (15 in Serie A and six in the Chmapions League). Higuain has 11 to his name (seven in Serie A, four in the Champions League) and Callejon nine (seven and two), the pair thus weighing in with 20 of Napoli's 41 total goals.
Napoli's man advantage
The Partenopei have found themselves a man up during games more often than any other side in 2013/14: their opponents have had a player sent off on six occasions.
Nerazzurri seeking first win at the San Paolo since 1997
Inter have not tasted success away to Napoli since 18 October 1997, when Galante (10) and a Turrini own goal (69) saw them to a 0-2 victory in Serie A. In the nine league encounters played at the San Paolo since then, the hosts have won six and there have been three draws.
Inter's last defeat on the road? Against Mazzarri in Naples!
The Nerazzurri are unbeaten away from home since 5 May when they went down 3-1 at Napoli in Serie A. Since then, they've put together three wins and five draws on their travels – their longest unbeaten run away from San Siro since August-November 2012, when they racked up 10 straight wins.
Nerazzurri unbeaten in nine
Inter have not lost in nine competitive matches, winning four and drawing five. Their last loss (and only one this season) was against Roma in Serie A on 5 October (0-3 in San Siro). Should the Nerazzurri extend their unbeaten streak to ten games this evening, it would be their longest run without defeat since September-November 2012, when they put together 10 straight victories in Serie A and the Europa League.
Inter penalty-less in 2013/14
Fifteen matches into the 2013/14 Serie A campaign and Inter are still yet to be awarded a penalty. Only three other sides (Atalanta, Chievo Verona and Parma) have also not benefited from a spot kick this year. Inter's last shot from 12 yards was on 8 May in Inter 1-3 Lazio (Alvarez): that's 17 league matches without a penalty, a surprising statistic considering that Mazzarri's men are the Serie A's topscorers this term with 34 goals.
Benitez v Mazzarri, round 1
Today sees the first contest between Rafa Benitez and Walter Mazzarri in a competitive match.
Benitez faces Inter as an ex for first time
Rafael Benitez has played Inter six times as a coach (all in international competitions) with the Spanish coach always in charge of non-Italian clubs. His record stands at three wins, one draw and two defeats (both 1-0 to Inter). Benitez was in charge of the Nerazzurri for a six-month spell from July to December 2010, winning an Italian Super Cup and the Club World Cup. Today Benitez is facing his former club for the first time since his brief reign at Inter.
And first time for Mazzarri against Napoli since leaving
Walter Mazzarri is also up against his ex-club for the first time since leaving the Azzurri, where he won the 2011/12 Coppa Italia during his four years in Naples (October 2009 to June 2013). His record against Napoli before then is W2, D2, L3. Until now Mazzarri's sides have not scored a single goal in four visits to the San Paolo, mustering a single 0-0 draw besides three defeats.
