Following the end of the World Cup, Napoli bought Edinson Cavani from fellow Southern club Palermo.[2] He cost roughly €17 million for Napoli, and was the clubs' most expensive player ever bought.[3] The club also loaned out playmaker Luca Cigarini to Sevilla, despite having the medical postponed due to illness.[4]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Source: Lega Serie A Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored. (C) Champions Notes:
^ abUdinese finished ahead of Lazio on head-to-head away goals scored: Udinese 2–1 Lazio, Lazio 3–2 Udinese.
^As Internazionale won the 2010–11 Coppa Italia and already qualified for the Champions League, Palermo entered the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League third qualification round as the cup runners-up.
Napoli qualified into the Round of 16 in the 2010–11 Coppa Italia by finishing sixth in the previous year's table, marking the first time since 1994–95 Napoli have entered the tournament at that stage. Napoli aim for its fourth victory in the national competition, and first since its 1986–87 finals win against Atalanta.[25]
Edinson Cavani, kept off the scoresheet in his debut with Napoli, hoped for better fortunes in the return leg of the matchup. Indeed, he scored his first two goals as a member of the club to help go up 3–0 on aggregate through halftime in Sweden. Napoli would go on to win by that score, and advance to the group stage.