Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuaín. (Photo : Getty Images)
Second-running squad SSC Napoli (20-4-7, 67 points) has been dealt a huge blow in their title contention hopes during their last matchday and they hope to persevere against cellar-dwellers Hellas Verona FC (3-15-13, 22 points) in a 2015-2016 Serie A season matchup at the San Paolo Stadium this Sunday, April 10th.
Napoli lost their number one striker Gonzalo Higuaín for four straight games, starting this one, after the Argentine goal-scoring machine was banned for his angry reaction following the team's loss to Udinese, 1-3, at the Dacia Arena last Sunday, as reported by SB Nation.
Udinese was already up 3-1 with 15 minutes left in the match when Higuaín, this season's top goalscorer in the Serie A, was booked for a second yellow card which led to his sending off. The Argentina international reacted with profuse anger, shouting and shoving at referee Massimiliano Irrati and also kicking a Udinese player.
With that, Higuaín was penalized with a four-game suspension, which many analysts believe has already finished off Partenopei's Scudetto hopes.
Zebrette midfielder Bruno Fernandes scored a double at the 14th and 45th+1 minutes while French forward Cyril Théréau added another one at the 57th to complete Udinese's three-goal haul.
Higuaín scored a consolation at the 24th before his wild behavior late in the match.
Recent reports are out that Gli Azzurri is appealing Higuaín's four-game ban and head coach Maurizio Sarri's one-game suspension as well.
"Napoli will make an appeal against the suspension of Gonzalo Higuaín and Maurizio Sarri because we feel they are unfair, and in any case excessive," an official statement from the club's website said.
Meanwhile, Verona pulled off a rare victory during their last matchday as it nipped Bologna, 1-0, on the road at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on Monday, as per SkySports.
Hellas' Brazilian center back Samir provided the lone goal in the match at the 42nd minute for manager Luigi Delneri's squad as they gained only their third win of the season.
With only seven matches left in Verona's current campaign, it looks like a demotion to the Serie B is inevitable to happen next season.
The predicted result is a 1-0 win for Napoli.
Napoli starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Gabriel; Soderlund, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Allan, Jorginho, Hamsik; Callejon, Mertens, Insigne
Verona starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Grassi; Pisano, Samir, Bianchetti, Albertazzi; Wszolek, Viviani, Ionita, Emanuelson; Juanito, Pazzini
