Real Madrid, Once again Mourinho he proves to be more cunning than his opponents and outwits an excellent Inter for 2-1Two defensive errors by the Nerazzurri and a goal by Mbappé that was greeted with a standing ovation from the entire Madrid stadium were decisive.
Tonight at 21pm, Napoli begins its journey in the new Champions League Hosting Arsenal at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. A match with enormous weight, even on the first matchday of the league season: on one side, Massimiliano Allegri's Azzurri; on the other, Mikel Arteta's Gunners, fresh off a top-notch European season.
It will be a special night for the stage too. Napoli wants to turn the Maradona factor into their extra weapon, while Arsenal arrive in Naples with the ambition of confirming their international standing. The English team has started the season well and comes into the match fresh from a 2-1 derby victory over Chelsea.
Napoli, Allegri focuses on 4-3-3
Napoli is expected to line up with a 4-3-3 formation. Meret will be in goal, with Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Rafa Marin, and Spinazzola forming the defensive line. In the middle of the pitch there will be space for Anguissa and Lobotka, while Kevin De Bruyne should complete the departmentThe former Manchester City player is one of the special players to watch this evening and could be called upon to bring quality and unpredictability to the Azzurri's play.
In attack, Neres and Alisson Santos are listed as wingers, with Rasmus Højlund at the center. The Dane is in particularly promising form and comes into the match after finding the net in recent matches against Como and Inter. Allegri, on the other hand, will have to contend with some significant absences, including Scott McTominay.
Napoli's probable lineup: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Rafa Marin, Spinazzola; Anguissa, Lobotka, De Bruyne; Neres, Højlund, Alisson Santos.
Arsenal, quality and intensity
Arteta should respond with a similar system. Raya in goal, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, and Calafiori in defense; Odegaard, Bruno Guimarães and Declan Rice in midfieldSaka, Havertz, and Tzolis will be the attacking trio. The defensive situation remains one of the main questions heading into the match, with William Saliba listed as unavailable and other players still to be evaluated.
The Gunners' great strength is their ability to alternate possession, pressure and sudden accelerations. Saka will naturally be one of the main dangers for the Napoli defense, while Odegaard will have to dictate the tempo of the play. Arsenal starts with an advantage in terms of recent European experience, but they will have to deal with an environment that could turn every contested ball into a battle.
Previous matches: four matches, only one Italian victory
Napoli and Arsenal have met four times before today's match, all in UEFA competition. The first meeting dates back to the 2013-14 Champions LeagueIn London, the Gunners won 2-0, while at the San Paolo, Napoli responded with the same result, in a match that also remained famous for Gonzalo Higuain's tears at the end of the match.
The two teams then met again in the quarter-finals of the 2018-19 Europa LeagueOn that occasion, Arsenal won 2-0 in the first leg at the Emirates and completed the job in the return, winning 1-0 in Naples. The overall record of the four previous meetings therefore favors the English side: three Arsenal victories and one for Napoli.
A challenge that is already worth a lot
The new Champions League doesn't leave much room for error, and starting with a positive result against a team of this caliber could have a huge impact on their qualification race. Napoli will have Maradona on their side, along with their enthusiasm and the chance to impress an Arsenal team that, despite being favorite on paper, will have to face a far from easy trip.
All the ingredients for a great evening are there: two ambitious teams, plenty of champions, and a European rivalry that's revived after seven years. Napoli-Arsenal will be at the Maradona, a match that promises to be a spectacle and which could already indicate a lot about the European destiny of the Azzurri.
