Napoli v Chelsea: Line-ups, stats and preview

Match Preview for Napoli v Chelsea

Napoli boss Antonio Conte was in combative mood ahead of his reunion with Chelsea tomorrow, lashing out at former Blues striker Diego Costa and Juventus counterpart Luciano Spalletti.

The teams meet in Naples tomorrow both needing a win for different reasons: Chelsea to enhance their hopes of a top-eight finish and Napoli to move into the playoff spots and avoid an early elimination.

Getting to the round of 16 was one of Napoli’s stated aims for this season and Conte wore the look of a man under pressure when he addressed the media this morning.

Costa and Spalletti both came under fire, the former for suggesting Conte was a “bitter man with no gratitude” after they combined to help Chelsea win the 2017 Premier League title. The former Brazil international even said Conte was always frustrated, “perhaps because he didn’t have enough sex”.

Conte dismissed Costa’s remarks today, saying: “I don’t care what he said. I don’t waste time and energy reading what people say about me. I remember that with him I won the Premier League and that he had asked to leave three times that season. Then what he did after Chelsea I don’t know.”

Napoli were beaten 3-0 at Juventus on Sunday, after which their ex-coach Spalletti suggested the Bianconeri had beaten the ‘former’ champions of Italy.

Conte bristled at Spalletti’s words. He said: “For me, it’s an unfortunate sentence. He was disrespectful and I wouldn’t have done it myself. Spalletti is a great coach but maybe he should be more careful when he speaks.

“He can’t say we are former champions because there are still 16 games to go.”

The defeat in Turin ended Napoli’s unbeaten run that stretched back to mid-December and Conte has called on the home fans to rally round his team tomorrow night.

“Let’s focus on Chelsea who are world champions,” he said. “We will do everything possible knowing that we can count on a strong ally [the fans[ in the Diego Maradona Stadium and we must not underestimate that.”

Chelsea have made an impressive start under the calm leadership of Liam Rosenior with the win at Crystal Palace at the weekend their fourth in five games since he took over.

Their last trip to Italy ended in defeat, though, a 2-1 setback against Atalanta under Enzo Maresca on December 9.

Team News for Napoli v Chelsea

Frank Anguissa, David Neres, Kevin De Bruyne, Billy Gilmour, Matteo Politano and Vanja Milinkovic-Savic are all injured for Napoli but former Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku is fit.

Cole Palmer may be fit enough for a place on the bench but Romeo Lavia, Filip Jorgensen, Dario Essugo, Levi Colwill and Tosin Adarabioyo are all out.

Predicted line-ups for Napoli v Chelsea

Napoli: Meret; Beukema, Buongiorno, Juan Jesus; Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Vergara, Højlund, Elmas

Chelsea: Sánchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo, James; Pedro Neto, Fernández, Estêvão; João Pedro

How to watch Napoli v Chelsea: TV and online streams

Napoli versus Chelsea kicks off at 8pm UK time tomorrow night. It is being shown on TNT Sports in the UK and can be streamed via the discovery+ app.

To watch elsewhere in the world, click HERE to find your local rights holder.

Stats for Napoli v Chelsea

• The only previous meetings between Napoli and Chelsea came in the 2011-12 Champions League, with the Blues eliminating the Italian side in the round of 16 5-4 on aggregate
• Napoli manager Antonio Conte has only won one of his five games against former club Chelsea
• Napoli have lost just one of their last 20 home Champions League matches (W12 D7)