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.

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.

Let me take you back to November 4th 2010. Napoli played Liverpool at Anfield. Napoli were 1-0 ahead thanks to an Ezequiel Lavezzi goal after 28 minutes and remained ahead with 15 minutes to play. Napoli fell apart to lose 3-1. The Partenopei could not cope with the Premier League sides ability to increasing the intensity as they sought to level and eventually win the game.