Europa League 
/ Richard Aikman / 16 February 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Napoli's Edinson Cavani is in seriously hot form
"Edison Cavani is grabbing the headlines, but Napoli’s defence has also been immense and, although captain Paolo Cannavaro will be suspended for Villarreal‘s visit, a low-scoring affair is still likely."
The Italians are flying and should just edge a defensive encounter, says Richard Aikman
Having emerged as surprise Scudetto contenders, Napoli ([2.18] to win) are oozing confidence and can be expected to edge out Villarreal ([3.75]) in a low-scoring contest at the Stadio San Paolo.
It has been an extraordinary season for Napoli, who underlined their Scudetto credentials with an impressive 2-0 win at Roma on Saturday night. Edinson Cavani, their €17m summer signing from Palermo, hit his 19th and 20th league goals of the season to keep the Partenopei within three points of AC Milan and he could well be on target again on Thursday.
It was a last-gasp goal by the Uruguayan, who alongside Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi is second in the Europa League scorers' standings, that ensured Napoli reached the knockout stage at the expense of Steaua Bucharest. But it should be noted that the striker's winner not only spared Napoli an early exit from the competition, but also a third consecutive goalless group draw.
Cavani is grabbing the headlines, but Napoli's defence has also been immense and, although captain Paolo Cannavaro will be suspended for Villarreal's visit, a low-scoring affair is still likely given that the Vesuviani defend so well as a team. They have won seven of their last eight home league matches and kept as many clean sheets in that run, only once in the last six matches producing a high-scoring match (three goals or more).
Villarreal made lighter work of their qualifying group but did lose on their travels to Dinamo Zagreb (2-0) and PAOK (1-0). More recently, the Yellow Submarine has also been sunk in its last two Liga sorties, succumbing 1-0 at home to Levante and at Deportivo on Sunday. Rossi and Marcos Senna were both substitutes for Sunday's match but even if they play a role in Naples, expect the hosts to edge it.
Recommended Bets:
Under 2.5 goals [1.86]
Napoli to win 1-0 @ [8.2]
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