Napoli host Chelsea in a massive final matchday game of the league phase in 2025-26 UEFA Champions League.
Currently sat outside of the knockout play-off spots on goal difference, Napoli must take victory or a draw and hope that other results go in their favour in order to qualify for the knockout play-offs.
Chelsea meanwhile must ideally win to secure a top-eight finish but a draw might be enough if results elsewhere swing in their favour, whilst defeat would condemn them to the knockout play-offs.
Team News
Napoli have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 3-0 Serie A defeat at Juventus.
Kevin De Bruyne, Matteo Politano (both hamstring), David Neres (ankle), Billy Gilmour (groin), Vanja Milinkovic-Savic (thigh), Amir Rrahmani (thigh/gluteal), Pasquale Mazzochi (knock), Frank Anguissa (back)
Chelsea have included Filip Jorgensen (unspecified) and Cole Palmer (thigh) in their travelling squad, which points towards the pair being available for selection.
Dario Essugo (unspecified), Tosin Adarabioyo (hamstring), Romeo Lavia (quad), Levi Colwill (ACL) and Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension) are still sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Napoli host Chelsea at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday 28 January at 8pm GMT, live on TNT Sports 4 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Napoli have won one of their two previous Champions League meetings against Chelsea (W1, L1).
- Chelsea lost 3-1 in their only previous Champions League visit to Napoli in February 2012, en-route to that season’s title.
- Napoli are yet to keep a clean sheet against Chelsea.
- Napoli have dropped just two points out of a possible nine in their three home games in this season’s League Phase (W2, D1).
- Chelsea have claimed just one point from their three away league-phase fixtures this season (D1, L2).
Prediction
Despite their injury crisis with quite a few big-name players out, Napoli know that this is a must-win but this is a tough ask given that they’ve won just one of their last six games in all competitions and were wasteful in their loss at Juventus.
Chelsea meanwhile comfortably dispatched Crystal Palace with a strong attacking display in which their press forced defensive errors which were clinically punished, but this is probably their second biggest test yet under Liam Rosenoir after that Carabao Cup first-leg 3-2 defeat at home to Arsenal.
I however do expect them to have learned from that particular test a fortnight ago and continue their recent defensive improvement coupled with their strong attacking play, which could well prove the difference if they can exploit Napoli’s vulnerabilities in the absence of De Bruyne and others.
Prediction: Napoli 1-2 Chelsea
Result: Napoli 2-3 Chelsea
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