UEFA Champions League Preview: Napoli vs Chelsea – Team News, Lineups & Prediction | OneFootball

Fighting on the opposite sides of the UEFA Champions League table, Napoli and Chelsea go head-to-head in a must-win clash on the final matchday. Stadio Diego Maradona sets the stage for a potentially season-defining match for the Partenopei.

Antonio Conte faces his former club, pressured to take all three points as Napoli’s quest to secure knockout qualification hangs by a thread. The reigning Serie A champions sit on the periphery of the top 24, level on points with 22nd-placed PSV Eindhoven.

With that in mind, a win may not be enough to keep Napoli’s European campaign alive. However, they must hold up their end of the bargain first, which could prove a tall order. Conte’s men head into proceedings on the back of a humiliating 3-0 loss to bitter domestic rivals Juventus.

Now winless in five of their last six matches across all competitions (D4, L1), Napoli take on a resurgent Chelsea side in their first Champions League meeting since 2012. Inspired by new boss Liam Rosenior, the Stamford Bridge giants have hit a purple patch, winning their last three games, including a narrow 1-0 home triumph over Pafos in this competition.

Chelsea solidified their pursuit of a top-four finish in the Premier League with a dominant 3-1 win at Crystal Palace over the weekend. Brimming with confidence, they visit Italy in search of an all-important victory that would confirm their top-eight finish.

Match Preview

Napoli

Conte has never been an expert in European competitions, but a league-phase elimination would represent a significant embarrassment for one of the most decorated Serie A managers. Though only goal difference separates his side from PSV, this feels like a must-win game for Napoli, whose continental campaign has been far from impressive (W2, D2, L3).

A stomach-wrenching 1-1 draw against 10-man Copenhagen last week inflicted substantial damage on Napoli’s qualification hopes, condemning them to a fifth winless Champions League game in five (D2, L2). However, the impending return to the Maradona Stadium bodes well, given Napoli’s remarkable home form.

Napoli have not lost a single home match since December 2024 (W18, D7), though it’s worth noting that they’ve drawn two of their last three outings at the Maradona (W1). On a more positive note, Conte’s men have only lost one of their previous 20 Champions League fixtures here (W12, D7), highlighting the fortress-like nature of this venue.

Chelsea

The visitors are unlikely to be intimidated by Napoli’s scintillating home record, as Rosenior seeks a statement win after winning four of his first five games in charge of the London powerhouse (L1). Last week’s triumph over Pafos means the Blues start this ultimate league-phase round occupying the final top-eight spot.

However, there’s no room for complacency, as they remain one of eight sides sitting on 13 points, meaning anything other than a win could send them into the playoff round. Despite their formidable run under Rosenior, Chelsea may not be overly optimistic ahead of this trip, having failed to win their last five Champions League away games (D1, L4).

Furthermore, the Pensioners suffered a 3-1 defeat on their only previous visit to Napoli. That result forms part of Chelsea’s horrendous run of seven losses from their last nine away clashes against Italian opposition (W1, D1). With that in mind, they would be naive to tuck themselves into a false sense of security.

Team News

An ever-growing injury list could be the reason behind Napoli’s rough patch. Indeed, Conte cannot call upon Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Kevin De Bruyne, Billy Gilmour, Matteo Politano, David Neres, and Amir Rrahmani for this meeting. Though Romelu Lukaku has regained full fitness, he’s more likely to start on the bench.

On the other hand, Chelsea will be without second-choice goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen. Moreover, Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo, Romeo Lavia, and Dario Essugo remain on the sidelines. Worryingly for Rosenior, standout playmaker Cole Palmer sustained a minor thigh injury during Sunday’s clash at Selhurst Park.

Napoli vs Chelsea Potential Starting Lineups

Napoli (3-4-2-1): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Jesus, Buongiorno; Spinazzola, Lobotka, McTominay, Gutierrez; Vergara, Elmas; Hojlund.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Badiashile, Cucurella; James, Caicedo; Pedro Neto, Fernandez, Garnacho; Joao Pedro.

Napoli vs Chelsea Prediction

With respect to Chelsea’s recent form, it’s hard to overlook their perennial struggles against Italian clubs and Napoli’s resounding record at the Maradona. The hosts cannot afford a slip-up, while Conte should have Rosenior’s number, given his vast experience in European fixtures.

As such, we wouldn’t put it past Napoli to condemn Chelsea to a place in the knockout playoffs.