The moment of truth has arrived. Tonight Rafa Benitez's Napoli are playing their European future on the field of Borussia Dortmund. It will be an important exam that will give a precise direction to the club's entire season, currently in a waning phase after the defeats against Juventus and Parma. “We have played many matches at the highest level, at least three out of four in the Champions League with a great approach and this time too we will have to do the same – explained Benitez in the press conference. – Let's try to remember the positive races, not the bad ones". Real or forced optimism? There is a doubt, because Napoli in the last few outings appeared to be in great difficulty both physically and mentally.
Then the opponent is one of the tough ones, even if, just like the Azzurri, he's certainly not going through his best moment. However, the blow suffered by Bayern could prove to be a double-edged sword: in fact, the Germans will have water in their throats and will want to play for their last chance of qualifying in front of the 65-strong Signal Iduna Park, once known as Westfallen Stadion . “We meet an opponent of the highest level, I like playing this type of match to show our value – thought Benitez. – The whole team must help in defense and show determination to go ahead and score goals. We face the most important competition, we know what is expected of us. We have to be 100% concentrated, but go onto the pitch calmly, we can't suffer for every game."
In short, calm and cool, perhaps with a pinch of healthy Italian defence. In fact, Don Rafè seems oriented to replace the injured Hamsik with Dzemaili, effectively modifying the offensive soul of his 4-2-3-1. “Everyone has the opportunity to play, but I'm not saying anything so as not to give the opponents an advantage – the Spaniard scoffed. – We analyze everything and with the players we have available we decide”. So, barring last-minute changes, the anti-Borussia system will be an unprecedented 4-3-3 with Reina in goal, Maggio, Albiol, Fernandez and Armero in defence, the Swiss barrier Berhami-Dzemaili-Inler in midfield and the trident Callejon-Higuain-Mertens in attack.
Jurgen Klopp will respond with the ordinance 4-2-3-1, conditioned however by the numerous absences in defence: in addition to Hummels, in fact, Schmelzer and Subotic will also be missing. Weidenfeller will go in goal, Grosskreutz, Papastathopoulos, Bender and Durm in defense, Kehl and Sahin in midfield, Blaszczykowski, Mkhitarian and Reus on the trocar, Panzer Lewandowski in attack. A draw will be enough for Napoli to qualify, vice versa a defeat would almost certainly lead to elimination. In that case, in fact, even a success against Arsenal would risk turning out to be useless... But in the Azzurri house nobody wants to think of the worst: this is the right night to become great, a moment that De Laurentiis has been waiting for a long time, and with him an entire city .
