A night of Champions. The Italian Champions League restarts immediately with two major matches: Inter-Slavia Prague (18.55 pm) and, above all, Napoli-Liverpool, promise entertainment and fun. It is clear that the spotlights will be on San Paolo in particular, where Ancelotti will try to stop the English title holders, but San Siro will also have his work cut out to push Conte's Nerazzurri to their first European victory, the fourth in a row of the season .
“We are starting our journey in the Champions League and it will be important to start off on the right foot – the words of the coach on the eve. – We will face a team that did very well last year, used to winning and with great physicality. We will have to have respect and attention, also because we haven't had much time to prepare, but this competition gives us a lot of stimuli and then it's nice to have all this enthusiasm around us".
In fact, the climate at Inter is more positive than ever and a victory today would give even more impetus in view of Saturday's derby. An appointment that Conte however does not want to think about, aware as he is of the risk of making a bad impression in front of all of Europe. The 3 points today are almost obligatory, at least looking at the calendar: with Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund just around the corner, in fact, it's essential to start well if you want to aim for the round of XNUMX.
“We cannot set ourselves goals, just like in the league – continued the coach. – Doing it today would be senseless but, as I told the kids, it's not even right to set limits: they immediately create alibis". The road is traced, now we just have to see if the field will give the necessary confirmations.
The big doubt on the eve concerns Lukaku (back problem), who however, according to the latest news from Appiano, should grit his teeth. The Nerazzurri 3-5-2 will therefore see Handanovic in goal, Godin, De Vrij and Skriniar in defence, Lazaro, Vecino, Brozovic, Sensi and Biraghi in midfield, Lautaro Martinez and, of course, Lukaku in attack. An offensive 4-2-3-1 for Trpisovsky, who will respond with Kolar between the posts, Coufal, Kudela, Hovorka and Boril in the back, Soucek and Kral in the midfield, Masopust, Stanciu and Olayinka behind the lone striker Skoda.
Much more high-sounding names at the San Paolo, with Napoli immediately in front of the Liverpool mountain. Sometimes it happens that whoever wins may then have a drop in motivation but this, at least for now, doesn't seem to be the case for the Reds, first in the Premier League with 5 wins in as many games, all with the usual highly spectacular game. However, the Azzurri certainly don't start beaten and last year's precedents also prove it: Insigne decided in Fuorigrotta while at Anfield only a great save by Alisson denied Milik the qualifying goal.
“I'm more interested in having positive responses than the result – glossed over Ancelotti. – This will be a good test at the start of the group, against a difficult but at the same time exciting opponent. We want to be protagonists in this Champions League, we have a competitive squad full of quality in every department. The first goal, unlike last year, is to go through and I think it's within our reach."
The biggest obstacle, in fact, seems to be this, which is why a good start would be an excellent way towards the round of 4. The coach, after Saturday's turnover, will return to the typical Napoli, therefore 4-2-XNUMX with Meret in goal, Di Lorenzo, Manolas, Koulibaly and Ghoulam in defense, Callejon, Allan, Fabian Ruiz and Insigne in midfield, Llorente and Lozano in attack.
“We learned a lot from last year's double challenge, we certainly know our opponent – thundered Klopp. – Napoli is a stubborn team, they play football, they penetrate between the lines but also play on the counterattack, I always like to watch them. We will have to defend well, but they too...".
The German coach, last year mocked by a goal from Insigne in full recovery, will try to make up for it with the usual 4-3-3 with Adrian in goal (Alisson is injured), Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk and Robertson in the backline, Henderson, Fabinho and Wijnaldum in the midfield, Salah, Firmino and Mané in the offensive trident.
