Two clubs who endured contrasting fortunes on MD1 meet in Naples on Wednesday night, as Serie A holders Napoli host Primeira Liga champions Sporting CP.
Napoli’s return to the Champions League ended in defeat at the Etihad, as they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Manchester City, with captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s red card after just 21 minutes not aiding things.
Antonio Conte’s men made the perfect defence of their Scudetto crown, winning each of their opening four matches.
However, the Partenopei suffered their first Serie A defeat on Sunday evening, as they lost 2-1 away at Milan on an evening where our man Vladislav landed a couple of winners.
Sporting, on the other hand, made the ideal start to their Champions League campaign, as they defeated debutants Kairat Almaty 4-1 at the Alvalade.
Rui Borges’s men won 0-1 at Estoril at the weekend, making it six wins from seven in the Primeira Liga, but they still trail leaders Porto by three points after suffering a 1-2 defeat at home to The Dragons at the end of last month.
How the bookies view it: Napoli favourites
Napoli are favourites to claim their first win in the Champions League this season, with BoyleSports pricing the Italian champions at 20/23.
Sporting are 3/1 underdogs to record back-to-back wins in the competition, whilst the draw is 5/2.
Head to head: Napoli success
These two clubs have only met on two occasions, in the first round of the 1989/90 UEFA Cup, with Napoli winning on penalties after a pair of goalless draws.
Players to watch: Napoli to look to De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne’s return to the Etihad in Napoli’s Champions League opener a fortnight ago lasted only 26 minutes, after he had to be sacrificed following Di Lorenzo’s red card.
The Belgian international has already scored three goals in Serie A this campaign – including a penalty in their defeat at Milan on Sunday night – and appeals to me at 4/5 at Bet365 for him to score or assist.
Predicted line-ups:
Napoli are expected to be without defenders Alessandro Buongiorno, Leonardo Spinazzola, Mathias Olivera and the suspended Giovanni Di Lorenzo, whilst Romelu Lukaku will also be missing through injury.
Sporting will be missing Ousmane Diomande, Nuno Santos and Daniel Braganca due to injury.
Napoli: Meret, Beukema, Marianucci, Jesus, Gutierrez, Lobotka, Politano, Anguissa, McTominay, De Bruyne, Hojlund
Sporting CP: Silva, Vagiannidis, Debast, Inacio, Araujo, Kochorashvili, Hjulmand, Quenda, Trincao, Goncalves, Suarez
Anything else catch the eye?
After keeping clean sheets in their opening two matches of the campaign, Napoli are without one in each of their next four, shipping multiple goals in their last three.
Whilst the reigning Serie A champions are looking light at the back for this clash, they have most of their players at the other end of the pitch available.
Conte’s men have struck 2+ goals in seven of their previous eight matches at the Maradona, and they are 4/5 at BoyleSports to repeat that against a Sporting backline that has kept a single clean sheet across their last eight Champions League contests.
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