The confident Partenopei side is ready to host struggling Blues, as Andre Villas Boas looking for a change in fortunes for the London outfit.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Napoli-c40003 will take on Chelsea in the first-leg of the last 16 round of UEFA Champions League at Stadio San Paolo on Tuesday, February 21 at 19:45 GMT.
The Azzurri come into this game on the back of an impressive 3-0 win over Fiorentina at Stadio Artemio Franchi at the weekend.
On the other hand, Andre Villas Boas is finding it hard to hold onto his http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Job-c18684 after a 1-1 draw against Birmingham City in the FA Cup recently.
The two teams will lock horns for the first-time in their histories.
Napoli
The Partenopei side have been extremely impressive in their debut Champions League campaign, and finished runners-up to Bayern Munich in the Group A. They have not lost a home game in their last 11 matches, but they have not been
in the best of forms since the turn of year.
The primary reason behind Napoli’s success in Europe has been their defending in the group stages of the competition. Walter Mazzarri’s men conceded only six goals in as many matches during the group stages.
Chelsea
The Blues have a horrendous record while playing in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Italy-c2926, having won only one of their last seven matches on their travels to the peninsula. Chelsea have won only two of the ten Premier League games since last December.
The London side is misfiring in all departments of their game, as they have been vulnerable in defence, slow in the midfield, and Fernando Torres is not providing http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Daniel-Sturridge-c10076 with the support in attack.
Team News
Napoli
Walter Mazzarri is likely to persist with his preferred formation of 3-4-2-1. Napoli are sweating on the fitness of defender, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Hugo-Campagnaro-c16394, who had to be substituted through injury against Fiorentina. There are no other injuries
or suspensions for the host’s.
Expected starting line-up: De Sanctis,
Aronica, Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Maggio, Inler, Gargano, Dossena, Hamsik, Lavezzi,
Cavani
Chelsea
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ashley-Cole-c6809 and Ramires, who are both out injured.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fernando-Torres-c13707 is expected to start upfront alongside Daniel Sturridge.
Expected starting line-up: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Bosingwa,
Essien, Meireles, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ramires-c30523, Mata, Sturridge, Torres
Players to Watch
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Edinson-Cavani-c11955 (Napoli)
El-Matador has scored 22 goals from 31 games played this season, and has once again been pivotal behind his team’s success. The Uruguayan international has found it hard to acclimatise himself to Europe, having scored four goals
in six European games played in the group stages.
The former Palermo star’s partnership with Marek Hamsik and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ezequiel-Lavezzi-c13073 will be crucial in deciding the outcome of the game in Napoli’s favour.
Juan Mata (http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786)
The Spaniard has unarguably been the best player for the Blues since his arrival from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-c40863 in the summer. Mata has scored seven goals and has contributed eight assists for the Blues so far. If Napoli are able to mark the Spanish
international, they are most likely to win the game.
Prediction
The Azzurri have too much attacking flair in the team, and their defence has also been extremely organised in Europe. The Partenopei side will be too much to handle for the Stamford Bridge outfit, and they are favourites to win
the game by at least two goals. Verdict: 2-0
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