A Huge Ask for Napoli in the Champions League

Champions League | Preview

06/12/17

A Huge Ask for Napoli in the Champions League

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When the 2017/18 Champions League groups were drawn, Napoli would have fancied their chances of qualifying from Group F.

Defeating and finishing above Manchester City was always going to be a tough ask but with Shakhtar Donetsk and Feyenoord making up the group, Napoli joined Manchester City as the favourites to qualify.

However, as we move to the final match of the group, which sees Napoli travel to Holland to play Feyenoord, the Italians need a win and must hope Shakhtar lose on home soil to progress.

Feyenoord have very little to play, sit bottom of the group and cannot qualify for the Europa League. It has been a hugely disappointing campaign for the Dutch champions and they will be looking to restore some pride for both themselves and Dutch football by winning this game.

Trends show Feyenoord have lost all five of their Champions League matches this season. They have been poor, both offensively and defensively scoring just 3 goals across all five games and conceding an average of 2.6 goals per game.

Things have not been good in their home matches and Feyenoord have lost both, conceding 6 goals in the process. Their form has picked up a bit recently in the Eredivisie but they are off the pace both domestically and in Europe.

Napoli travel to Rotterdam having lost 1-0 at home to Juventus in Serie A on Friday night. It was a massive dent to Napoli’s title ambitions because not only has it allowed Juventus to close the gap at the top but it dealt a big psychological blow to the Napoli players.

There is little time for the Napoli players to feel sorry for themselves as they know they face elimination from the Champions League, unless they take maximum points from this game. Maurizio Sarri must raise his players following their first home league defeat of the season.

However, things have not been good in the Champions League and Napoli find themselves in third place in Group F with 6 points from their five games.

The wins have both been at home, with a comfortable 3-1 win over Feyenoord in the reverse fixture and a 3-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk. Away from home, things have not been so good and Napoli have lost at both Manchester City and Shakhtar, conceding 4 goals across the two games.

Trends show there have been over 2.5 goals in each of Napoli’s five Champions League games this season.

Team News and Feyenoord will be without Ridgeciano Haps, Jan-Arie van der Heijden and Eric Botteghin due to injury. Karim El Ahmadi will return to the team following suspension.

Napoli travel without Faouzi Ghoulam and Arkadiusz Milik who both have long term injury problems. Defender Kalidou Koulibaly should return to the starting XI having served a one match ban.

Feyenoord will want to go out with a bang but attacking this Napoli team could be a mistake and will allow them to hit on the break at pace. The Italians have the better quality and can win the match which should see over 2.5 goals.