Champions League: Euro Action Returns to Football Hotbed

Napoli vs Liverpool

The Champions League (proper) bursts into action this week and, as I have said before on these very pages, the passion of the Partenopei in Naples is rather special when at its finest.

Indeed, a raucous Stadio San Paolo is a perfect setting for European nights.

With last season’s tournament runners-up Liverpool in town, that anticipation is only heightened as a new-look Napoli take their promising early season domestic form to the European stage.

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It is form which as surprised as much as delighted, particularly for their avid fans who were angry earlier in the summer when star names like Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne, David Ospina and Kalidou Koulibaly departed.

However, they were more reassured as reinforcements were brought in and boss Luciano Spalletti has since outlined where Napoli need to improve and defined the club’s ambition.

Napoli, third in Serie A last term, actually come into this tie in second place in the Italian top flight with Saturday night’s victory at the Stadio Olimpico against Lazio, and their former boss Maurizio Sarri (who came close to guiding them to their first ever league title since the days of the great Diego Maradona), particularly impressive.

It helped them regain top spot as new boys Kim Min-jae and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia turned the match around to secure fine away victory.

Mattia Zaccagni had given the Rome club the lead after only four minutes but Min-jae equalised seven minutes before the break and Georgian winger Kvaratskhelia netted the winner.

The only downside to that success was an injury sustained by Hirving Lozano.

The Mexico international was stretchered off following a clash of heads amid fears he had fractured his cheekbone which was visibly swollen when he was receiving treatment on the pitch.

Thankfully, after being taken to hospital, X-rays came back negative and doctors decided the head trauma was not sufficient to keep him in overnight and he was allowed to travel back to Naples.

Whether Lozano will be fit to help his team create Champions League highlights on Wednesday is unclear at this stage.

Just as worrying for the hosts is the fitness of Victor Osimhen who has a muscle problem.

Victor Osimhen is on doubt to play for Napoli against Liverpool in the Champions due to a muscle problem — Napoli fans during their match against Hellas Verona in the Serie A last season

Liverpool also have their own injury concerns with midfielder Thiago ruled out and captain Jordan Henderson also doubtful, although the Merseysiders have real strength in depth, including a player who was plying his trade in Serie A until last week in Arthur Melo when he left Juventus on loan.

By recent standards, Liverpool have had a mixed start to their domestic season but it must be remembered they have still lost only three times in 2022 – one of those a second leg when they still advanced. If some critics are calling it a blip, it’s the sort of blip most clubs would dream of.

The Premier League runners-up last term have not won in any of their three previous visits to Naples and, while they should have too much know-how to top the standings over six games, this could be the trickiest assignment they face in Group A.

With Ajax (who have also many of their top players this summer) waiting in the wings, a win for either team would be the perfect start in their bid to reach the knockout stages.

History

These teams have met six times in nine years – the only times they have faced each other competitively.

In the 2010 Europa League, the sides drew 0-0 in Naples before Liverpool won 3-1 at Anfield when captain Steven Gerrard scored a hat-trick in the last 15 minutes.

Then they met for two consecutive group stages in the Champions League.

A late Insigne goal sealed a 1-0 home Napoli success.

It was the same score at Anfield in the rematch, a game which saw Liverpool qualify for the knockout stages at the expense of their opponents and go onto win the tournament.

The following season, holders Liverpool were beaten away, this time thanks to late goals from Mertens and Fernando Llorente in Italy, before the return match finished 1-1 at Anfield. On that occasion Mertens and Dejan Lovren were the marksmen.