Chelsea vs Napoli: Team News, Likely Line-ups & Predicted Score

Chelsea play Napoli in their Champions League second leg at Stamford Bridge tonight, with the Blues needing to overturn a 3-1 loss to progress to the quarter finals.

This will only be interim manager Roberto Di Matteo’s third match in charge but undoubtedly the biggest of his managerial career so far.

Napoli arrive at the Bridge in ominous form, having won their past six matches scoring a total of 17 goals, so Di Matteo know’s he has a tough task ahead to stifle the impressive Italians.

Team News

Chelsea are likely to make several changes from the side that beat Stoke on Saturday. Juan Mata, Fernando Torres, Daniel Sturridge and Michael Essien did not start at the weekend, and all are pushing for a return to the starting line-up tonight.

Torres is the least likely to start, after Dider Drogba put in an impressive goal-scoring performance against Stoke and is likely to retain his place in attack.

Jose Bosingwa is out with a hamstring strain, while Raul Meireles is suspended after picking up his second booking in the first leg.

Both John Terry and Ashley Cole came through the Stoke match unscathed having recently returned from injury, so are in line to play tonight.

Napoli have little injury problems to worry about so are likely to field a familiar line-up. The impressive front trio of Marek Hamsik, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani will be the major threats for Chelsea to watch out for once again.

Likely Line-ups

Predicted Score

It seems the Chelsea players are responding well to Roberto Di Matteo being in charge and there is more of a togetherness about the squad, but overturning a 3-1 scoreline against a vibrant Napoli side will be an extremely difficult task.

Many will point to the fact ‘all’ Chelsea need is a 2-0 win to progress. But that would mean stopping Napoli scoring, something i can’t see happening tonight. Chelsea to win, but still crash out. Chelsea 2-1 Napoli.

What are your thought on the game? What will the score be? Get involved in the comments section below…

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