Chelsea will face Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday night in what is widely expected to be a rather tense end to the Champions League group stage. The match will kick off at 8pm UK time, with the Blues already in Italy as preparations continue in full swing.
Currently, Napoli sit in 25th place, as they’ve picked up just eight points in the competition this season. A loss or a draw against Chelsea will mean that they get eliminated in the group stage. However, they will need to clinch all three points to hold onto the playoff spots.
For Chelsea, on the other hand, the task is somewhat easier. The Blues sit in 8th place on the Champions League table, the final spot for automatic qualification. A loss or a draw against Napoli could push them into the playoff spots, while a win could help them avoid those extra two games.
The Blues have arrived in Italy with fairly strong momentum, thanks to their 1-0 win over Pafos at the Bridge last week. While they were widely expected to dominate that game and score multiple goals, Liam Rosenior’s side still picked up the important three points.
UK viewers can watch the game unfold on TNT Sports 4 and discovery+. Meanwhile, fans in the USA can watch the two European giants clash on Paramount+. The match time for US viewers will be 3 pm (ET).
Chelsea have a superior goal difference and stronger away form than their Italian counterparts, who have struggled to meet expectations in the Champions League. This should be enough to give them enough of an edge to see off their hosts with a 2-1 win.
Chelsea and Napoli Player Availability
Chelsea and Liam Rosenior will be facing something of a selection dilemma ahead of this game. They saw Cole Palmer unable to partake in their 3-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace on the weekend. This could mean that the exciting playmaker could return to the lineup for the Napoli game.
Meanwhile, Tosin Adarabioyo isn’t expected to play, with the defender reportedly dealing with an injury.
On Napoli’s end, there are a number of key players unavailable. Kevin De Bruyne, Billy Gilmour, and Romelu Lukaku are not expected to play. Others, like Amir Rrahmani and Matteo Politano are said to be fitter, but they remain doubts for the game. Antonio Conte will likely turn to Rasmus Hojlund to lead the line for the hosts tomorrow.