7M Preview: Napoli vs. Chelsea - prediction, team news, lineups

Several familiar faces turn into opponents at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona this Wednesday, as Napoli welcome Chelsea in a decisive final matchday of the Champions League's league phase—a contest both teams must win.

Antonio Conte meets his former employers fully aware that his side, positioned 25th, require a victory to avoid elimination, while the Blues realistically need to overcome the Partenopei to secure a coveted top-eight finish.

Match Preview
A difficult week worsened for Conte's reigning Serie A champions as they were thrashed 3-0 by Juventus at Allianz Stadium, a result that leaves them nine points behind league leaders Inter Milan.

The loss in Turin followed last week's disappointing stalemate with 10-man Copenhagen on the penultimate league-phase matchday. Despite Thomas Delaney’s dismissal for the hosts after 35 minutes, the Italian giants could not capitalise.

Scott McTominay gave them a lead before halftime, but Jordan Larsson's equaliser for Copenhagen meant Napoli remain 25th in the 36-team standings.

Though they sit outside the top 24 on goal difference—one of five teams on eight points—a win in Naples would significantly boost the Serie A club's prospects of reaching the knockout phase playoffs.

This is a plausible outcome, given the Azzurri have taken seven points from a possible nine at the Maradona during this league phase. Furthermore, they have won eight of their 11 European matches against English opposition, losing only twice.

One of those eight victories came against Wednesday's visitors in the 2011-12 campaign, when a 3-1 home win gave the Partenopei an edge in the last 16—only for Chelsea to progress after a 4-1 triumph at Stamford Bridge.

The West Londoners revisit the Maradona 14 years after a subpar display under then-manager Andre Villas-Boas left them on the verge of exiting the tournament—a competition they would ultimately win following the Portuguese's dismissal and Roberto Di Matteo’s inspired turnaround.

Both clubs have transformed since, with no players from Chelsea’s current squad part of that historic maiden Champions League triumph. Indeed, even Conte—who managed Chelsea from 2016 to 2018—may find few familiar faces in the away section, reflecting the vast changes in West London since his departure roughly eight years ago.

Regardless, the Blues are unlikely to be accommodating on Wednesday, as they aim to clinch automatic qualification for the first knockout round and bypass a perilous playoff for a last-16 place.

The London giants approach the midweek fixture buoyed by their finest performance under Liam Rosenior—a 3-1 victory over struggling Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park that extended their unbeaten run against the Eagles to 18 matches.

That Premier League success marked Chelsea’s third consecutive win across all competitions—and fourth in five since Enzo Maresca’s exit. They now seek four straight victories for the first time since last September-October, when Champions League wins against Benfica and Ajax were sandwiched by league triumphs over Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

However, the Blues must contend with a poor record on Italian soil in European competition, having won just two of 13 such visits and losing eight. Six of their last seven trips have ended in defeat, including December’s 2-1 loss to Atalanta—presenting a steep challenge against a side unbeaten at home since December 2024.

Compounding concerns is Chelsea’s failure to win an away match in this competition since beating RB Salzburg 2-1 in October 2022—an unwelcome run stretching five games, featuring defeats to Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Atalanta, plus a draw at Qarabag FK.

With eight clubs on 13 points, Chelsea—who could still finish as high as third, with third-placed Real Madrid on 15 points—could easily become one of the unseeded teams in the knockout playoffs if they suffer another defeat and other results go against them.

While Napoli's jeopardy is comparatively lesser, both teams’ pressing need for a victory makes Wednesday’s encounter at the Maradona undeniably critical.

Team News
Although Romelu Lukaku returned at the weekend after an absence since August, the striker is not anticipated to start against his former club. Rasmus Hojlund is expected to lead the line instead.

Alex Meret is likely to make his first Champions League start since March 2024, with Vanja Milinkovic-Savic potentially missing due to a muscular issue.

Kevin De Bruyne and Frank Anguissa headline a lengthy injury list that also includes Billy Gilmour (groin), Matteo Politano (muscle), David Neres (ankle), and Amir Rrahmani (muscle). Winter signing Giovane, recently brought in from Hellas Verona, is also ineligible.

With McTominay scoring four of Napoli’s seven Champions League goals (Hojlund has two), the Scotland international represents the home side’s primary threat to Chelsea’s ambitions.

For Chelsea, while Joao Pedro has eight Premier League goals, the Brazilian has only one in Europe. Estevao Willian (three goals) and Moises Caicedo (two) are the Blues’ leading scorers in this competition.

Cole Palmer’s participation is uncertain after he missed the win at Palace with a thigh issue. Rosenior has insisted no player below full fitness will be risked, making a bench role the most likely outcome for the playmaker.

Romeo Lavia has not yet resumed team training, and Filip Jorgensen’s condition is still being evaluated. Levi Colwill (knee), Tosin Adarabioyo (hamstring), and Dario Essugo are confirmed absentees.

After impressing in midfield against Palace, it remains to be seen if Rosenior keeps Andrey Santos in the lineup—a decision that could impact the involvement of Reece James. The Chelsea captain’s minutes are being managed, and his potential start is unclear after playing 81 minutes at Selhurst Park.

Napoli possible starting lineup:
Meret; Di Lorenzo, Jesus, Buongiorno; Spinazzola, Lobotka, McTominay, Gutierrez; Vergara, Elmas; Hojlund

Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Badiashile, Cucurella; James, Caicedo; Pedro Neto, Fernandez, Garnacho; Joao Pedro

We say: Napoli 1-0 Chelsea
None of Chelsea’s last 55 European matches have ended goalless, and with both sides requiring a definitive result, a sterile affair seems improbable.

However, it is difficult to ignore the London club’s historical struggles in Italy and to dismiss Napoli’s strong recent and long-term form at the Maradona.

Therefore, the formidable atmosphere in Naples, combined with McTominay’s proven knack for decisive contributions, could prove to be the marginal difference between the two sides.