Napoli’s Champions League Hopes in the Balance

Champions League | Preview

01/11/17

Napoli’s Champions League Hopes in the Balance

Marco Iacobucci EPP / Shutterstock.com

We are into the fourth round of the Champions League group stages and that means the reverse fixtures from match day three.

Looking at Group F and we have an exciting game in store at the San Paulo Stadium, Naples, as Serie A leaders Napoli, welcome Premier League leaders Manchester City.

While both teams are doing very well domestically, only one of these teams has managed to transfer that form to the Champions League. Manchester City have been the team most capable in Europe and they start this match top of the group, with a maximum of 9 points.

Napoli start this match in third place in the Group on 3 points and anything other than a win will see them all but out of contention for the next round, especially if Shakhtar Donetsk defeat Feyenoord.

Napoli come into this match having won only one of their three group games, which was at home to Feyenoord on match day two. It was a comfortable 3-1 victory but having lost at Shakhtar Donetsk in the opening game 2-1 and then at Manchester City last time out, which was also 2-1, the Italians have left themselves with a lot of work to do.

However, scoring goals has not been a problem and trends show Napoli have scored at least once in their last eight Champions League games and each of their group matches this season has seen over 2.5 goals scored.

Manchester City travel to Naples knowing a win will be good enough to see them qualify for the Round of 16 with two matches remaining. This would be perfect for Pep Guardiola, who could rotate his squad for the last two matches of the group.

Manchester City have won all three of their Group F games, starting with a good 4-0 win in Feyenoord. This was followed up with a 2-0 home win over Shakhtar Donetsk and a 2-1 win over Napoli, which was also at home.

Like their opponents, trends show Manchester City have scored at least one goal in each of their last eight Champions League games and have also managed to score 2 or more goals in every group game this season.

However, Manchester City have also conceded 3 goals in three of their last five away Champions League games and will need to keep things tight defensively if they are not to concede more in Naples.

Looking ahead to the team news and the only absentee for Napoli is Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik. Having been rested on the weekend, defender Kalidou Koulibaly should come back into the team and the regular front three of Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne and Jose Callejon will start.

Manchester City are without the injured duo of Vincent Kompany and Benjamin Mendy. Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling will hope to start the match having been on the bench at the weekend.

It would be a huge shock if we did not see goals in this game. Both teams thrive on playing good, attacking football and with Napoli at home, they may have a slight edge but Manchester City have quality throughout their team. Expect to see over 2.5 goals, with both teams scoring in a close match.