Antonio Conte’s Napoli host Chelsea in UCL decider

By Alex Roberts

Chelsea were poor in their previous match against Pafos, needing a 78^th minute Moisés Caicedo headed to overtake the Cypriot team. They’re pretty much top eight, but without a win here they’d probably drop out.

It could be worse. Napoli have been dreadful throughout their campaign so far and are on the verge of being completely eliminated. Their 1-1 draw against FC København leaves them trailing in 25th^th with just eight points in seven games so far. Conte has a love/hate relationship with the Champions League.

Estêvão uh huh uh huh, I like that

Rosenior arrived and Estêvão played an important role in four of his five games in charge, a slight increase from the minutes he spent under Enzo Maresca. The young Brazilian was the best player on the pitch in the 3-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace.

He remains one of Chelsea’s best attacking threats despite not being a regular starter. In the Premier League, he has the most successful dribbles per 90 (3.2), the most shots per 90 (3.2) and the highest xA per 90 (0.29). It is no exaggeration to say that he is the future of the club.

On the continent, Estêvão is Chelsea’s top scorer in the Champions League with three goals. He’s already shown what he’s capable of against the Spanish champions, there’s no reason why he can’t do the same against their Italian counterparts.

A small meeting

There are a few former Chelsea men currently plying their trade at Napoli. Billy Gilmour is out with a groin injury, leaving Conte and Romelu Lukaku available to rain on their former club’s potential parade.

Conte is still a hero at Chelsea, the last man to win a Premier League title before being unceremoniously sacked by the previous regime. We’re sure the Stamford Bridge faithful are happy that such things don’t happen anymore…

Lukaku, for his part, burned every bridge he had at the club with a baffling interview just months after his arrival in which he said he never wanted to leave Inter Milan. The striker has only just returned from injury, so he may not start, but if he does feature, the reception from Chelsea supporters will certainly be hostile.

Team News

Both teams will be missing some big names here. The big question is whether or not Cole Palmer will be there. Rosenior said he SHOULD be fine, but he said that too before the Palace game, and he was nowhere in sight.

Goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen is also doubtful for the visitors, while Levi Colwill (ACL) Tosin Adarabioyo (thigh), Roméo Lavia (thigh) and Dário Essugo (muscle) are all absent.

Napoli have seen their bid to retain the Scudetto take a major blow due to the persistent injuries they are suffering. Vanja Milinković-Savić (thigh), Amir Rrahmani (muscle), Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (muscle), Gilmour (groin), Kevin de Bruyne (thigh), David Neres (hamstring) and Matteo Politano (thigh) will all not be back for a while.

Prediction

Chelsea usually turn up when they need to, but despite Napoli’s poor form they won’t be pushovers, so we’re aiming for a 2-1 win for the visitors.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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