Mazzarri wants more of the same from Napoli

Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri has urged his players to reproduce their second-half performance against Manchester City when they face AC Milan on Sunday.

The Naples club earned a valuable 1-1 draw against the Premier League side in their Champions League clash midweek, particularly impressing in the final 45 minutes.

Mazzarri will be hoping his team can follow up last week’s 3-1 win over Cesena with a second victory in Serie A, but is fully aware they will need to be at their best to defeat the defending champions.

“We need to do what we did in the second half against Manchester City [when we face Milan]. We played with authority and without fear of our opponents, that is the attitude I like,” the 49-year-old said.

“The result can depend on individual episodes but the performance is all important.”

If Napoli are going to earn a positive result versus Massimiliano Allegri’s team, they may have to do so without striker Ezequiel Lavezzi who suffered heavy bruising to his ankle during the City game on Wednesday.

“We’ll have to see how Lavezzi is doing in the next few hours. He wants to play but we’ll have to see what the doctors say,” Mazzarri said.

Napoli enjoyed a superb 2010-11 league campaign, ending the season in third place – their highest finish since they won the league in 1990.