Napoli vs Chelsea: Team News, Likely Line-up & Predicted Score
By Football Talk Published: 21st February 2012
Chelsea take on Napoli at the intimidating Stadio San Paolo tonight in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.
Much of the pre-match talk has centred around the future of manager Andre Villas-Boas and of you believe what you read in the papers, the importance of this game can’t be stressed enough for the young Portuguese boss.
The Blues head into the game on the back of a five-match winless run and 34-year-old Villas-Boas will be desperate for a positive result tonight to ease the pressure after a disappointing season so far at Stamford Bridge.
Napoli have also been relatively poor domestically this season, and currently sit sixth in Serie A. However, their home form is formidable with no European defeats in eleven home ties and the Italians have been hugely impressive in the Champions League this season, winning their group that included Premier League leaders Man City.
Team News
John Terry remains a doubt for the game but if he comes through a light training session ok, he should be fit to start. Ashley Cole is also in-line to return from a calf problem.
Ramires and Mikel are both available after making successful returns from injury against Birmingham on Saturday. The big call for AVB is whether to recall Didier Drogba in place of Fernando Torres up front. Napoli are expected to have the lions share of possession so Drogba is likely to be given the nod due to his ability to play the target man role and hold up the ball.
Likely Line-up
Predicted Score
Terry and Cole’s fitness could be crucial to the outcome of this match. Their experience will be vital for Chelsea tonight and should the pair miss out it will be make the Londoners task even more difficult.
Even with the England duo in the side, Chelsea will do well to come away with anything tonight but an away goal would leave the tie well poised for the return leg at Stamford Bridge. I predict Napoli 2-1 Chelsea. Not ideal, but far from a disaster.
What are your thought on the game? Please leave your opinions in the comments section below…
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I wish my chelsea team best of luck. No treat from Napoli trio hamsik,cavani,lavezi
4:1 Napoli. They will tear the invalid Chelsea defense apart. Attack is non-existant at Chelsea. They no longer create chances. It is amazing to see other teams create chances and score and Chelsea being so inept, almost impotent as far as the attack is concerned. Unbelievable transformation
That is amazing about the goal record and saying that they still in top 4 for most goals in PL.
Great research smoker!
I think we are going to beat them coz in blue i stand, up!!!!!! chelsea……
I want Drogba to start if my darling team Chelsea want 2 win nd we wil defeat napoli 3:0 2day with mata nd sturidge
I tink cech should be given tym 2 rest in som of d gamez nd i sugest da cahil, luiz,ivanovic nd ashley cole shud be in our defence.
Napoli are belived on cavani and i knw that napoli can nt win chelsea.we need the support of all chelsea fanz.
AVB is a f joke
Its going to be a tough one but chelsea will carry the day…via torres and ramires and mata……up blues
If only AVB can pair luiz&cahil at d center back nd play ivanovic in d right back then d middle essien,lampard &ramires.up front sturage,drogba&mata any thing short of this am afraid we ar out.up chelsea.
All d way 4 napoli ,chelsea must fall tonight .up gunners 4ever
Chelsea cn’t defeat Napoli due 2 d problems dey r hvn in d team
up blues for life, take it or leave it
Chelsea nyd a gud coach nd talented midfielders, defenders nd strikers.
Chelsea need to tatack Napoli proper but let them put it in the back of their mind that, there (Napoli)are very good in counter attack.
I am sure chelsea wil beat napoli. Chelsea can recover from any trouble. They proved that. I think chelsea wil beat napoli minimum 3-0 .
chelsea can win napoli 0 chelsea 2 my name is abass i.m suport chelsea goals ramires and sturridge
Pls avb if u want us 2 win dis match play with dis formation cech, ivanovic, chaill, luiz, ashle, mikel essien, ramires, mata, drogba,daniel/toress. With dis we are unstopable up chelsea.
let’s forget the past and luk for this tough game,i beleave in mata,sturridge and drogba we’ll win 2-1
Well we all know that acertain club from Naples called Napoli has got three wisemen and that is
1.Cavani
2.Hamsik
3.Lavezzi
so lets wait n c hw the star is gonna lead them to victory!
we fear knw foe bluez 2 beat niple by 2 goal to 1….avb if u used mirelese chelsea ankwa.
AVB, These are the words of a wise Chelsea fan: pair up Drogba and Torres, Sturridge on the right with Matta, Ramires and Lampard behind them. The result will be an avalanche of goals in the Napoli net! Go Chelsea go!!
Chelsea 2-0 Napoli
I wish chelsea d best of luck 2day against napoli,4 me i see ntn comin from Hamsik,Cavani and Lavezzi
If villa boas want 2 win dis game,let him tie dis defence,using,luiz,ivanovic,cahil and cole.if wish chelsea gud luck
Whle it is a big game 4 d both side, bt 2me i cnt c my luvly club losin d match. by god grace we mst go wit a maximum point, up chelsea
I think Chelsea are going to scrape it together, they have 2 talented strikers that should be able to score.Hopefully the new manager will be able to pull the blues together in time for the match.