4 min: Chelsea pressing high, Estevao full of beans as he chases down his flank. Napoli having to play their way out.
3 min: Di Lorenzo goes off but looks groggy rather than hurt badly. Napoli are running low on players at the moment so losing him would be a bitter blow.
Away we go in Naples
1 min: And yes, both teams are lined up with three at the back. Could three at the back be one of the reasons for Conte’s lack of European success? The man himself is pacing as Di Lorenzo, his captain, is down after a collision.
The Napoli ultras sang the last line of the Champions League anthem like a war cry. This competition has not always been kind to their team.
Naples is loud as the teams take to the field, and by the looks of pre-match it will be two teams playing three at the back. The Champions League anthem rings out.
Hugh Collins gets in touch: “Are there any theories as why Conte teams are so abysmal in Europe? He has had plenty of opportunities to get it right.”
One theory is the intensity he throws at domestic campaigns, though other theories are available.
Liam Rosenior spoke to TNT ahead of kick-off: ““It’s been a positive start. Firstly the players and their engagement and attitude and willingness to learn, I think they have enjoyed it as well. Tonight is another big test for us and if we manage to come through it , it gives us a great chance of being in the top eight.”
“They are very good on transition. They are very organised in their press. From what I’ve seen they will press us really, really high, whether that is from a 3-4-3 or a 5-4-1. They have outstanding players. They build well from the back. It is going to be a difficult game and we are prepared for it.”
For Chelsea, Reece James looks to be playing centre-back, while Napoli have only named five subs. Antonio Conte has selected Leonardo Spinazzola on the the right flank, with Mathías Olivera on the left of the traditional Conte 3-5-2. It looks as though Chelsea have matched them man for man.
A reminder that Napoli, despite their travails in this competition, have not lost at home for a year.
This game brings back memories of a Champions League classic. Recall John Terry directing the team from the sidelines after subbing himself off? To think he never became Chelsea manager, as once seemed his destiny.
So, no Cole Palmer starting for Chelsea. Romelu Lukaku is also on the bench, for Napoli against his old club.
The teams
Napoli XI: Meret; Buongiorno, Juan Jesus, McTominay, Olivera, Hojlund, Elmas, Di Lorenzo, Vergara, Spinazzola, Lobotka. Subs: Contini, Spinelli, Gutierrez, Lukaku, Beukema, De Chiara, Garofalo
Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, James (C), Fofana, Cucurella, Caicedo, Andrey Santos, Estevao, Fernandez, Neto, Joao Pedro. Subs: Jorgensen, Merrick, Acheampong, Badiashile, Chalobah, Hato, Palmer, Gittens, George, Garnacho, Delap, Guiu
Here’s where the teams stand in the mega table, ahead of the final round.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Newcastle | 7 | 10 | 13 |
| 8 | Chelsea | 7 | 6 | 13 |
| 9 | Barcelona | 7 | 5 | 13 |
| 24 | Olympiacos | 7 | -5 | 8 |
| 25 | Napoli | 7 | -5 | 8 |
| 26 | Copenhagen | 7 | -6 | 8 |
Let’s not forget the permutations:
After edging past Pafos last week, Chelsea hold the final top-eight place but face a difficult trip to Antonio Conte’s Napoli, despite the Italian champions’ injury problems. A win in Naples should put Liam Rosenior’s side through to the last 16 but it may come down to goal difference. A draw or a defeat and, again, given the number of teams on 13 points, Chelsea would likely be condemned to the playoffs.
The overnight news from Naples was grim.
The big news of the day so far from Chelsea: Raheem Sterling was not on the flight.
Preamble
Antonio Conte was a popular Chelsea manager, and then he was no longer Chelsea manager. That’s the way it’s always gone during his coaching career, from Juventus to Italy to Chelsea to Inter to Tottenham (!?) and now Napoli, the trajectory is similar. There’s usually a kick against the suits and then a departure. Another constant is a ruinous record in Europe despite being such a capable coach. Napoli, the Serie A champions no less, are in 25th place and need a win to make the knockouts. Chelsea, for whom Liam Rosenior is the seventh manager since Conte turned up for training in the summer of 2018 and found himself replaced by Maurizio Sarri, are in eighth and probably need a win to escape what they’re calling the “punishment round”. All to play for the in the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Join me. Kick-off is 8pm UK time.
