My OperaThis week's Blockbuster: Napoli vs Chelsea........
Monday, February 20, 2012 4:37:50 PM
Napoli vs Chelsea.
February 21, 2012 7:45 PM GMT
Stadio San Paolo, Napoli — Napoli
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo
Napoli - Chelsea Preview: The Blues look to end a run of one win in six against the Serie A side
The hosts are hoping to maintain a 16-year unbeaten home record in European competition in the chase for a maiden Champions League quarter-final.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
NAPOLI
De Sanctis
Aronica, Campagnaro, Cannavaro
Maggio, Inler, Gargano, Dossena
Hamsik, Lavezzi
Cavani CHELSEA
Cech
Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Bosingwa
Essien, Meireles, Ramires
Mata, Sturridge, Torres
Napoli have a largely full strength squad to choose from ahead of the clash in Naples – and most importantly, the ‘Big Three’ of Marek Hamsik, Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi are all expected to start. Uruguay international Cavani netted twice to condemn Manchester City to an early exit from the competition, and the hosts will look to their talismanic forward to fire them past another English side.
With Hamsik starting in midfield alongside Lavezzi behind Cavani, Napoli are an attacking force to be reckoned with and will likely pose a serious threat to a somewhat-beleaguered Chelsea defence.
It’s a big night for Gary Cahill, who will likely start should John Terry fail to reach full fitness, but Andre Villas-Boas will be relieved to have both Michael Essien and Ramires available for selection to shore up the centre of midfield. Frank Lampard has overcome a calf injury sustained against Norwich, and is likely to be in the squad against Walter Mazzari’s men, but Ashley Cole is expected to miss out.
Up front, both Daniel Sturridge and Juan Mata should start behind Fernando Torres, who now more than ever needs to rediscover goalscoring form if the Blues are to leave Italy with a priceless away goal.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Napoli have twice before played host to English sides – they drew 0-0 with Liverpool in last season’s Europa League group stages, before their 2-1 win over Manchester City earlier in this season’s Champions League.
• They have not lost a match at Stadio San Paolo since they returned to European competition in 2008 after a 13-year absence. The last side to record a victory in Naples was Eintracht Frankfurt, way back in December 1994.
• Part of this fearsome home record is down to their miserly defense: they conceded a goal apiece against City and group-winners Bayern Munich, which ended a run of 573 minutes without conceding at home in Europe.
• After a run of just one win in six Serie ‘A’ matches, Mazzari’s men have recorded two wins on the bounce – the latest an impressive 3-0 success at Fiorentina.
• The much-maligned Fernando Torres (pictured right) has managed just two goals in nine Champions League games for Chelsea, whilst Napoli hitman Edinson Cavani has netted four times in six appearances in his maiden season in the competition.
• Chelsea are competing in the last 16 of the Champions League for the ninth season in a row.
• They have a disappointing record against Italian sides, having won only once in seven visits to Italy – the last a 4-0 thrashing of Lazio in the 2003/04 season.
• In knockout contests, however, their record reads much better: they have won two of three two-legged ties against Serie A opponents, against Juventus in 2008/09 and and Vicenza Calcio in the 1997/98 Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final.
• Chelsea have notched 53 attempts on goal so far in this season’s competition – only Barcelona and Real Madrid have managed more.
• Conversely, Napoli have managed just 18 – the lowest total in the competition, with the exception of Turkish side Trabzonspor.
Last Five Matches
Napoli
17 Feb 2012 Fiorentina 0 - Napoli 3
ITA1
13 Feb 2012 Napoli 2 - Chievo 0
ITA1
9 Feb 2012 Siena 2 - Napoli 1
ITAC
5 Feb 2012 AC Milan 0 - Napoli 0
ITA1
1 Feb 2012 Napoli 0 - Cesena 0
ITA1
Chelsea FC
18 Feb 2012 Chelsea FC 1 - Birmingham City 1
FA
11 Feb 2012 Everton 2 - Chelsea FC 0
EPL
5 Feb 2012 Chelsea FC 3 - Manchester United 3
EPL
31 Jan 2012 Swansea City 1 - Chelsea FC 1
EPL
28 Jan 2012 QPR 0 - Chelsea FC 1
FA.
Players to Watch
Edinson Cavani
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 7
Games Goals YC RC
6 4 1 0
With 22 goals in 31 appearances this season, Cavani has become one of the hottest properties in European football. His two goals in the group stages against Manchester City helped fire his side to the knockout stage, and he netted twice in their last game against Fiorentina to lift Napoli back in to the Serie A top five.
With Hamsik as playmaker behind and Lavezzi alongside him, Cavani could pose the most serious threat to Petr Cech’s goal – particularly if John Terry is not fit enough to start the match. Gary Cahill and David Luiz have struggled for form in their fledgling partnership at the heart of Chelsea’s defence, and Cavani could be the man to expose them if the creativity of Hamsik is not stifled.
Juan Mata
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 10
Games Goals YC RC
5 1 1 0
Mata has been a stalwart in Villas-Boas’ side in what has been a largely inconsistent season for the Blues. With seven goals and eight assists in his first season at Stamford Bridge, he has consistently pulled the strings in attack while the likes of Lampard and Raul Meireles have often struggled for fitness and form.
Given Napoli’s strength in attack, Chelsea will be desperate for an away goal on Tuesday night to give them the best chance of victory over the course of two legs. With Torres continuing to misfire and goals from midfield in short supply, Mata could prove crucial to giving the Blues an advantage to take back to the Bridge.
Prediction
We’ve seen some high scoring matches in the last 16 so far this season, and Tuesday’s clash in Naples should be no different. Chelsea have the pace to pose a real threat on the counterattack, particularly if Napoli stick with a back three; the hosts, meanwhile, have the attacking prowess to challenge any defence in Europe, particularly one missing their talismanic captain.
I’m expecting a lively encounter at Stadio San Paulo, with plenty of attacking flair on offer. The Blues may struggle to leave Naples with a victory, but they should have enough to grab a priceless away goal to leave the tie nicely poised going in to the second leg.
Editor's Prediction
Napoli:2
Chelsea:1
February 21, 2012 7:45 PM GMT
Stadio San Paolo, Napoli — Napoli
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo
Napoli - Chelsea Preview: The Blues look to end a run of one win in six against the Serie A side
The hosts are hoping to maintain a 16-year unbeaten home record in European competition in the chase for a maiden Champions League quarter-final.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
NAPOLI
De Sanctis
Aronica, Campagnaro, Cannavaro
Maggio, Inler, Gargano, Dossena
Hamsik, Lavezzi
Cavani CHELSEA
Cech
Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Bosingwa
Essien, Meireles, Ramires
Mata, Sturridge, Torres
Napoli have a largely full strength squad to choose from ahead of the clash in Naples – and most importantly, the ‘Big Three’ of Marek Hamsik, Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi are all expected to start. Uruguay international Cavani netted twice to condemn Manchester City to an early exit from the competition, and the hosts will look to their talismanic forward to fire them past another English side.
With Hamsik starting in midfield alongside Lavezzi behind Cavani, Napoli are an attacking force to be reckoned with and will likely pose a serious threat to a somewhat-beleaguered Chelsea defence.
It’s a big night for Gary Cahill, who will likely start should John Terry fail to reach full fitness, but Andre Villas-Boas will be relieved to have both Michael Essien and Ramires available for selection to shore up the centre of midfield. Frank Lampard has overcome a calf injury sustained against Norwich, and is likely to be in the squad against Walter Mazzari’s men, but Ashley Cole is expected to miss out.
Up front, both Daniel Sturridge and Juan Mata should start behind Fernando Torres, who now more than ever needs to rediscover goalscoring form if the Blues are to leave Italy with a priceless away goal.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Napoli have twice before played host to English sides – they drew 0-0 with Liverpool in last season’s Europa League group stages, before their 2-1 win over Manchester City earlier in this season’s Champions League.
• They have not lost a match at Stadio San Paolo since they returned to European competition in 2008 after a 13-year absence. The last side to record a victory in Naples was Eintracht Frankfurt, way back in December 1994.
• Part of this fearsome home record is down to their miserly defense: they conceded a goal apiece against City and group-winners Bayern Munich, which ended a run of 573 minutes without conceding at home in Europe.
• After a run of just one win in six Serie ‘A’ matches, Mazzari’s men have recorded two wins on the bounce – the latest an impressive 3-0 success at Fiorentina.
• The much-maligned Fernando Torres (pictured right) has managed just two goals in nine Champions League games for Chelsea, whilst Napoli hitman Edinson Cavani has netted four times in six appearances in his maiden season in the competition.
• Chelsea are competing in the last 16 of the Champions League for the ninth season in a row.
• They have a disappointing record against Italian sides, having won only once in seven visits to Italy – the last a 4-0 thrashing of Lazio in the 2003/04 season.
• In knockout contests, however, their record reads much better: they have won two of three two-legged ties against Serie A opponents, against Juventus in 2008/09 and and Vicenza Calcio in the 1997/98 Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final.
• Chelsea have notched 53 attempts on goal so far in this season’s competition – only Barcelona and Real Madrid have managed more.
• Conversely, Napoli have managed just 18 – the lowest total in the competition, with the exception of Turkish side Trabzonspor.
Last Five Matches
Napoli
17 Feb 2012 Fiorentina 0 - Napoli 3
ITA1
13 Feb 2012 Napoli 2 - Chievo 0
ITA1
9 Feb 2012 Siena 2 - Napoli 1
ITAC
5 Feb 2012 AC Milan 0 - Napoli 0
ITA1
1 Feb 2012 Napoli 0 - Cesena 0
ITA1
Chelsea FC
18 Feb 2012 Chelsea FC 1 - Birmingham City 1
FA
11 Feb 2012 Everton 2 - Chelsea FC 0
EPL
5 Feb 2012 Chelsea FC 3 - Manchester United 3
EPL
31 Jan 2012 Swansea City 1 - Chelsea FC 1
EPL
28 Jan 2012 QPR 0 - Chelsea FC 1
FA.
Players to Watch
Edinson Cavani
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 7
Games Goals YC RC
6 4 1 0
With 22 goals in 31 appearances this season, Cavani has become one of the hottest properties in European football. His two goals in the group stages against Manchester City helped fire his side to the knockout stage, and he netted twice in their last game against Fiorentina to lift Napoli back in to the Serie A top five.
With Hamsik as playmaker behind and Lavezzi alongside him, Cavani could pose the most serious threat to Petr Cech’s goal – particularly if John Terry is not fit enough to start the match. Gary Cahill and David Luiz have struggled for form in their fledgling partnership at the heart of Chelsea’s defence, and Cavani could be the man to expose them if the creativity of Hamsik is not stifled.
Juan Mata
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 10
Games Goals YC RC
5 1 1 0
Mata has been a stalwart in Villas-Boas’ side in what has been a largely inconsistent season for the Blues. With seven goals and eight assists in his first season at Stamford Bridge, he has consistently pulled the strings in attack while the likes of Lampard and Raul Meireles have often struggled for fitness and form.
Given Napoli’s strength in attack, Chelsea will be desperate for an away goal on Tuesday night to give them the best chance of victory over the course of two legs. With Torres continuing to misfire and goals from midfield in short supply, Mata could prove crucial to giving the Blues an advantage to take back to the Bridge.
Prediction
We’ve seen some high scoring matches in the last 16 so far this season, and Tuesday’s clash in Naples should be no different. Chelsea have the pace to pose a real threat on the counterattack, particularly if Napoli stick with a back three; the hosts, meanwhile, have the attacking prowess to challenge any defence in Europe, particularly one missing their talismanic captain.
I’m expecting a lively encounter at Stadio San Paulo, with plenty of attacking flair on offer. The Blues may struggle to leave Naples with a victory, but they should have enough to grab a priceless away goal to leave the tie nicely poised going in to the second leg.
Editor's Prediction
Napoli:2
Chelsea:1
