Chelsea
Chelsea vs Napoli: Team News, Likely Line-ups & Predicted Score
Chelsea play Napoli in their Champions League second leg at Stamford Bridge tonight. Here is team news, likely line-ups and predicted score for the big game.
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…
Fancy a flutter on the game? Claim your £10 welcome bonus at Sky Bet and enjoy some of the best match odds in the business.
Brian Scott
March 14, 2012 at 1:03 pm
—————–Cech————
Ivanovic—Cahill—-Terry—Cole
———-Mikel—-Essien——-
Ramires——Lampard———Mata
————-Drogba————–
Prediction: Chelsea 2 Napoli 2
make
March 14, 2012 at 1:44 pm
ıvanovıc chhıll terry cole
Essien
ramires lampard
torres drogba mata
fkb
March 14, 2012 at 1:47 pm
cech
ivan-luiz-terry-cole
——-essien——
—ramiles–meireles
sturrige———–mata
drogba
Ahamefule happy
March 14, 2012 at 1:49 pm
chelsea 2 napoli 0
Ishqi
March 14, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Chelsea Will beat Napoli bye 4-1 The Line up I would like is:. Cech Ivanovic, Terry, Cahil, Cole Mikel, Essien, Luiz, Mata, Torres, Strudge
blumoon
March 14, 2012 at 11:05 pm
Spot on mate 🙂
Topsy joseph
March 14, 2012 at 3:03 pm
Chelsea will win 6-0 the formation should be 3-4-2-1 cech- luiz- cahil john terry -essien- mikel- remires-lampard- mata- torres- drogba than if the result remain goaless in 30 mint mikel or essien should be withdrawn for sturrage or kalu
tunde
March 14, 2012 at 3:10 pm
mikel obi must be used to avoid more attack 4rm napoli
B-kas
March 14, 2012 at 3:30 pm
Cech
Ivanovic. Cahill. Terry. Cole
Remires. Essien
Lampard
sturridge. Drogba. Mata.
Sub.
Luiz
mikel
torres
lukaku
maloudA
Dayo
March 14, 2012 at 3:50 pm
For me like using luiz, terry ,cole ,invanovic, mikel, mata, lampard, torres, kaluo, drogba, and the good result will follow.
Sunday ayoola
March 14, 2012 at 4:06 pm
Chelsea wil win napoli dis nite by 3.0 am a chelsea fans
chineye
March 14, 2012 at 4:54 pm
for chelsea tn win napoli dix nite, they should mark out hamsik and lavazzi then pass can not reach cavani with this we can napoli wel and qualify. I love chelsea.
Audu
March 14, 2012 at 5:01 pm
I believed chelsea will win dis 9nt but i d’t known if chelsea wil qualify to quater final
Sam Weller
March 14, 2012 at 5:09 pm
1:1, 2:2 or 1:3. In all cases Napoli advances
bhieyhie
March 14, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Chealsea will beat Napoli 3 goals τ̅☺ nofin.Mikel must be used IN̶̲̅» D̶̲̥̅̊ match
Alextope
March 14, 2012 at 5:28 pm
Probable line up!Cech, Terry, ivanovic, Luiz, cole, Lampard, Ramires, Mikel, Mata, Drogba, Sturrige. Score line: Chelsea 3, Napoli 0. BLUES FOR LIFE!
Ogunbiyi shola
March 14, 2012 at 5:44 pm
Dis is d best formation to be used,if i were di-matteo.DEFENCE-ivanovic luiz terry cole.MIDFIELD-lampard mikel ramires then mata,FORWARD-drogba torres.FORMATION: 4-3-1-2.usin dis i see chelsea moving at d top.
Chelseaman
March 14, 2012 at 5:58 pm
————–Cech————-
Ivanovic-Cahill-terry——Cole
————Essien————-
——–Ramires-Lampard——–
-Sturridge–Drogba—–Mata—-
Subs:
Turnball
Luiz
Mikel
Kalou
Torres
Score line:
Chelsea 4-1 Napoli
Goals:
Mata Cavangi
Sturridge
Lampard
Mata
Man of the Match – Juan Mata
Chibuzo
March 14, 2012 at 6:09 pm
I pray dat d blues wil win dis match with 3-0 no matter wat we dey our home wil we do what baryern did yesterday up chelsea
coogah
March 14, 2012 at 6:20 pm
Line up… Cech, cole, terry,Cahill ivo,(defence), Essi, Lampard ramires(midfield) mata in fron, El Nino an drogba up front. SUB: Kalou- ramires(56)min
luiz -cahill 69 push ivo up,abit. pt kalou strike wth drogba, put Torres RIGHT, FR ACCURACY CROSS-IN, BUM DROGBA OR KALOU FINISHES, AN MATA TO STRING THE PASES.. STURRIGE, WELL,- MATA 77 MIN..
Kunlex
March 14, 2012 at 6:59 pm
Chelsea will win 4-1 up chelsea