Creative midfielders. We've talked about the need for one at Chelsea at length over the past several months. Napoli's Marek Hamsik definitely fits the mold of what we should be looking at. Plus, he's got the hair. That shit is seriously epic in either a good or hilariously bad way depending on your take.

Creative midfielders. We've talked about the need for one at Chelsea at length over the past several months. Napoli's Marek Hamsik definitely fits the mold of what we should be looking at. Plus, he's got the hair. That shit is seriously epic in either a good or hilariously bad way depending on your take.

By Richard Nash

After starting the season with their customary 4-3-3 formation, Wigan have now lined up in a 3-4-3 system ever since their 3-3 draw with Blackburn on November 19th. Roberto Martinez trialled the system in a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa on October 1st, but then reverted back to his familiar 4-3-3 for their following game against Bolton.

In the last midweek action before the holiday break there was a plethora of goals in Serie A. Napoli hit six past Genoa, Atalanta hit four against Cesena and Inter Milan also notched four this time at home to Lecce. AC Milan ended the year as winter champions after Juventus were held 0-0 away at Udinese.

Roma relieved all pressure on their previously under-fire boss Luis Enrique with a Sunday evening victory at Napoli's San Paolo. Lining-up without regulars Miralem Pjanic, Fernando Gago and Simon Kjaer, the Giallorossi took the lead after just three minutes. Erik Lamela's cross deflected off Salvatore Aronica and bounced over the line after striking ‘keeper Morgan De Sanctis' arm: a freak goal,.

Adequate Provocation in the Heat of Passion is a legal phrase, used in the American court system to mitigate a crime from murder in the first or second degree down to voluntary manslaughter. Why bring this up now, in the context of writing about Napoli? Well, I confess, it's because I've been having homicidal thoughts about some who don the azzurri kit.

Villarreal vs Napoli 0-2 Highlights Video Goals Inler Hamsik 2011 is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Villarreal vs Napoli 0-2 Highlights Video Goals Inler Hamsik 2011 is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Villarreal vs Napoli 2011 ( Villarreal CF SSC Napoli video below) Score and result:- Villarreal vs Napoli 0-2 ( Gokhan Inler, Marek Hamsik) El Madrigal, Villarreal- Gp.

Many thought that one Manchester side would see its Champions League dream come to an end tonight but in the end, it ended up being the fate of both.

City and United, the two Mancunian giants battling at the Premier League summit, will now battle together in the Europa League after failing to get the desired results tonight.

Celebrating a disallowed goal is always a bit embarrassing, but Napoli star Marek Hamsik can rarely have been left more red-faced than after this bizarre sequence of events during last night's match with Juventus. Hamsik stepped up to take a spot-kick for his side after Andrea Pirlo had tripped Ezequiel Lavezzi in the box.

There are multiple story lines that could be woven into a discussion on Napoli's win over Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday. The partenopei, an average club paying average wages to a relatively small squad, defeated the oil-sheik's wealthy play toys. On a broader level, the team from the inferior Serie A beat the club from the best league in the world to take second.

There are multiple story lines that could be woven into a discussion on Napoli's win over Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday. The partenopei, an average club paying average wages to a relatively small squad, defeated the oil-sheik's wealthy play toys. On a broader level, the team from the inferior Serie A beat the club from the best league in the world to take second.

by serieaweekly guest writer Matthew Coccoluto This Sunday will see Juventus travel to the San Paolo to take on Napoli and as always there are some interesting story lines coming into this matchup. Juventus are coming off a strong win against Inter last weekend and are hoping to remain the leagues only unbeaten team.

Napoli supporters – and in case you haven't figured it out, I am certainly one of those – have reason to be thrilled after Wednesday's performance against Udinese. The zebrette had been undefeated through their first seven matches, with Samir Handanovic not having conceded in over a month, when he allowed Stephan El Shaarawy's equalizer for Milan.

Serie A Weekly welcomes writer Kirsten Schlewitz to our Italian football frontpage For some reason, when gearing up for Napoli's match last week, I was convinced that they were playing Cagliari. Perhaps I simply had a premonition that the Partenopei were about to be beaten by Parma – at the San Paolo, mind you.

Manchester City are monitoring the availability of Napoli's Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi, with first-team coach Fausto Salsano hinting that the Eastlands outfit is likely to bid for the duo's services in the near future.

Napoli have maintained their incredible rise to prominence by starting off strongly in the Italian Serie A and also fighting City to a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium in the opening fixture of the UEFA Champions League Group Stage.

Manchester City are monitoring the availability of Napoli's Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi, with first-team coach Fausto Salsano hinting that the Eastlands outfit is likely to bid for the duo's services in the near future.

Napoli have maintained their incredible rise to prominence by starting off strongly in the Italian Serie A and also fighting City to a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium in the opening fixture of the UEFA Champions League Group Stage.

Inter versus Napoli was supposed to be a beautiful night of football. It was supposed to showcase two top sides in Serie A who had represented Italy proudly in Champions League midweek. It was supposed to be a battle between two teams potentially challenging for the Scudetto. It was supposed to be a beautiful night of football.

With just two matches left in the qualifying process for the 2012 European Championships, the Republic of Ireland remain in with a very real chance of getting to their first major tournament since the 2002 World Cup.

Thierry Henry and France's controversial- and undeserved- win meant heartbreak for the Boys in Green in the 2010 World Cup play-offs.

Week 5 in Italy did not disappoint here are the top 5 goals of the weekend. 5. Bojan Roma vs. Atalanta Daniele De Rossi with a fantastic ball over the top to Bojan who took in his stride and finished calmly to net his first goal for the club 4. Alessio Cerci Fiorentina vs Lazio A purple patch for the Italian winger, Stevan Jovetic crosses in for Cerci who chested the ball on finish with ease by.

David Cannon/Getty Images(Bleacher Report) Arsene Wenger spent big on the last day of the summer window in attempt to stop the bleeding that has seen his club have its worst start in years.
Two losses and a draw now see the Gunners in 17th place in the table, with a host of clubs swarming to try and kick the perennial top four club while they are down the ladder.

At the Stadio San Paolo earlier this week, in front of a thunderous support, Napoli made their grand entrance onto the European stage, as they defeated Villareal 2-0 in their first home match in the Champions League. Perhaps it is almost time for the football world to stand up and take notice of Napoli.

Wow, an outbreak of nudity. We thought there was some sort of European embargo on this kind of thing, it happens so infrequently. Not that we're bitter. Image: AP Photo/Claude Paris.

Have we split the Midweek Champions League Results over two days because a) we want to give you the opportunity to comment on each night's action as soon as possible, or b) Because it's a relatively easy way to fill up space when we're short staffed and we're thinking of sloping off early today anyway?

1-0 Marek Hamsik 14' 2-0 Edinson Cavani (Rig.) 17' Vuoi conoscere le classifiche, i risultati, le statistiche e le quote scommesse da tutto il calcio mondiale? Visita Calciometria.com DISCLAIMER: Calcioplus non hosta alcun video pubblicato su di esso. Tutti i video pubblicati sono caricati da amanti di calcio su siti di video hosting come Youtube e Dailymotion ed ubicati dunque su siti esterni

Liverpool is considering a move for attacking midfielder Marek Hamsik, according to reports.
The Slovakian international has been earning rave reviews for Napoli and is currently being watched by Liverpool scouts.
Reports suggest the Reds are considering a move for Hamsik this January after watching the 24-year old help Napoli earn a draw against Manchester City last week.

After a quite incredible week which saw Internazionale coach Gian Piero Gasperini lose his job just three games into the Serie A season, one thing is abunduntly clear in the world of Italian Football the Scudetto is definitely there to be won.

For the first time in a long time, there is no clear front runner to win the league and there is a growing belief that one of as many as 7 or 8 different clubs could be crowned champions at the end of the season.

The Time Is Napoli! Italy's two premier sides went head to head in the peninsula's showcase match of Week 2. Both the Partenepoi and Rossoneri earned respectable draws against hotly fancied opposition in Manchester City and Barcelona respectively midweek, were coming into the Sao Paolo clash with injury concerns.

So after 20 years the long wait is nearly over for Napoli as they embark on their first season in the Champions League since the glory days of the late 80′s and early 90′s, an era in the club's history dominated by Diego Maradona. Now its the turn of Edinson Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik to display their abundant talents in European football's premier.

Gazzetta dello Sport Ibra KO, go for it Pato! Gasperini Changes: Here is why Hamsik goal towards City, delirium for Lavezzi Buffon: "I looked at Pirlo and thought there is a God..." Mangia: €2,368 for beating Inter Toro go top Pozzi double, Samp fly Tuttosport Conte makes love to Juve Toro, Bianchi scream!

Manchester City is one of the best club in the World. In the last years they have bought amazing players, such as David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri, Yaya Toure and Edin Dzeko, plus they have a great manager like Roberto Mancini. However the winning in the match of tomorrow agaist Naples is not to be taken for granted.

2010-2011 Team Napoli Recap Whether they were known as the "comeback kids", the "miracle men", or any other name, Napoli enjoyed a fantastic season thanks to a myriad of factors, chief of which was a never-say-die attitude. Mazzarri's men had the habit of leaving it late which made for some pretty dramatic finishes.

Gazzetta dello Sport Juve double assault Prandelli says "If Cassano stays at Milan, will be a regular" Galliani applauds Montolivo-Aquilani "They are Mr X and Mr Y" De Laurentiis to go to Spain for Rossi Inter: Tevez or Lavezzi on the way Eto'o perhaps in Russia by August 21 De La Pena goes, offer increased for Osvaldo Gilardino for Genoa, Maxi Lopez towards Florence .

Gazzetta dello Sport Inter Market There is Maicon for Tevez Eto'o negotiates Casemiro gets closer Milan on Aquilani and Cassano to Genoa can bring in Kucka Vucinic is in Turin Perotti or Vargas for the left Di Natale: "I'll reach 150 goals then I'll look for a new Sanchez" Tuttosport The plan for Nani Alex takes on Lugano Balotelli beats Inter.

AC Milan is closely monitoring the situation of Liverpool's Alberto Aquilani as they consider the addition of the former Roma and Juventus midfielder, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports.
The 27-year-old is surplus to requirements at the English side and initially appeared to be on his way to Fiorentina.

Napoli Shoot the Moon, Make Offer for Sanchez

As we spoke about earlier this week, Udinese's Alexis Sanchez is one of the most sought after transfer targets by Europe's top clubs, being linked with high-priced moves to the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Barcelona.

Roberto Mancini looking to his homeland for transfer targets. - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Manchester City coach Roberto Mancini has identified a host of Serie A targets that he will be interested in buying this summer. The Italian is concocting a transfer wishlist to City owner Sheikh Mansour, which contains players from the length and breadth of Italy's top flight.

The Serie A Weekly crew are happy to welcome back from the Guardian sports desk Paolo Bandini. Paolo and I log the first podcast of the summer talking well transfers and managers of course. Recorded Monday this week, all is still very fresh and relative with topics on, Inter's new managerial plan Leonardo to Paris Pastore "should I stay or should I go" Oh where will Cesc.

Mazzarri è restato a Napoli anche con l'idea che De Laurentiis riconfermasse i suoi giocatori di punta: el matador Cavani, el Pocho Lavezzi e Marek Hamsik, giocatori che sanno far parlare di sé per quanto dimostrato sul campo, ad un livello che ha contribuito al terzo posto in classifica, ma soprattutto alla Champions.

AC Milan president Adriano Galliani insists the club have no plans to bring Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, Napoli star Marek Hamsik or Fiorentina defender Riccardo Montolivo to the San Siro this summer.

Having a strong ambition in getting back into the Champions League next season, Tottenham Hotspurs have been heavily linked in making a move for several quality players to strengthen their squad in the summer, including Napoli's star, Ezequiel Lavezzi.

However, despite of the press rumors, the deal doesn't seem to occur as the Italian club's president, Aurelio De Laurentis, isn't keen on releasing one of his important players ahead of the Azzurri's upcoming Champions League campaign.

There are many things that will be remembered about the 2010-2011 Serie A season, both fondly and infamously. Of course, people will remember Milan's Scudetto and Bari's relegation, Inter and Roma's thrashings in the Champions' League and Napoli's dramatic late goals. Here's a series that focuses on some of the other things that should be remembered about a fantastic season, full of both the bizarre and the unbelievable.