Napoli vs Arsenal: Champions League Showdown Preview, Team News and Lineups

Massimiliano Allegri took over from Antonio Conte as Napoli coach in the summer. Napoli and Arsenal are paired in a titanic tussle to open their Champions League seasons as two league winners—in Serie A and the Premier League respectively—within the last two-season faceoffs. The Gunners ended a 22-year wait to reclaim the English top flight last season, while also reaching the Champions League final where they were defeated by Paris Saint-Germain. Napoli were dethroned as Italian champions by Inter Milan last season, but retain a squad capable of striking fear into any side in Europe.

As the defending Serie A champion last season, Napoli was eliminated in the league phase after finishing 30th of the 36 teams in the Champions League. Massimiliano Allegri replaced Antonio Conte as head coach after last season. “We need to get 12 points to secure qualification,” Allegri said. “We know we’re up against a team that has just won the Premier League and reached the final of this competition. Mikel Arteta has done well to get his defence organized and they concede very few goals.” Napoli has lost two straight in Serie A, getting beat by Como and Inter Milan—going down 3-2 to the latter at the weekend.

Arsenal are on a four-game winning streak to start their latest campaign. The Gunners beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield to start the run. Coventry, Aston Villa and Chelsea have been downed in the league, in what has been a formidable start. Nine goals have been scored so far, with only one conceded by the team not only regarded as the best defence in the world, but also the favourites to lift the Champions League trophy.

The Opta supercomputer has given Arsenal a 52 percent chance of winning the game, while offering Napoli only a 22 percent chance. This will be the fifth meeting between the teams with Arsenal winning three of the encounters and Napoli claiming victory in the other match.

Napoli has issues in midfield for its Champions League opener against Arsenal on Wednesday, with both Scott McTominay and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa unavailable. McTominay underwent a surgical procedure to treat an irregular heartbeat on Tuesday, while Anguissa has a physical issue. Predicted Napoli starting lineup: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Marin, Rrahmani, Spinazzola; De Bruyne, Lobotka, Gilmour; Politano, Hojlund, Santos.

Cristhian Mosquera has not travelled for the match due to a muscular injury that kept him out of the Aston Villa game. Jurrien Timber continues his return from a groin injury and could make the bench. William Saliba remains out with a back problem. Bruno Guimaraes, who was an unused sub at the weekend, is closing on full fitness. Predicted Arsenal starting lineup: Raya; White, Konsa, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Odegaard, Tzolis; Havertz.