Allen Hamilton
What: Champions League – Group A
Who: Manchester City vs Napoli
When: Wednesday 14th September, at 19:45 UK Time
Where: Eastlands, Manchester, England
Champions League New Boys
When Manchester City take to the pitch at Eastlands they will be making their bow in the Champions League. But few expect Roberto Mancini’s men to need time to adapt or feel their way around Europe’s showpiece competition. Simply put, City’s players belong on this stage and several have already tasted the Champions League at some point in their careers.
However, the Citizens’ introduction to the competition is not an easy one; any thoughts of landing in a group akin to that of local rivals Manchester United, which resembles more of a pre-season ramble than going head-to-head with Europe’s elite, had to be quickly cast aside. Bayern Munich, Napoli and Villarreal – if Mancini guides City to top spot in Group A there will be a growing feeling the club could even lift the trophy.
And City come into this opener against Napoli in fine form, matching Manchester United step for step in the English Premier League. With four wins out of four, just goal difference keeps Mancini’s men in second behind the Red Devils. Turning his attention to the matter of the Champions League though, the City boss was cautious.
"We talk about a difficult group, but it is difficult too for the other teams. Bayern is used to playing [in the] Champions League", said Mancini. "But in this group every team can win the group or you can arrive in fourth position. [The] Champions League is a crazy competition. For us it’s important that we play well in the first group, go into the second stage and after that you must be lucky."
Italian Renaissance Down South
Napoli surprised the whole of Serie A last season; few had realised just how good the southern Italian team could be. With the likes of Edinson Cavani, Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi, Napoli were expected to be strong contenders for a top four finish, but a solid challenge for the Scudetto itself was proof of just how far the side have come.
The Azzurri have strengthened this summer too, with the most impressive of the new recruits Swiss midfielder Gokhan Inler. The tough-tackling, energetic ball-winner will add real steel to Napoli’s midfield and will aim to take charge of the middle of the Eastlands park quickly in this encounter.
An attacking trio of Hamsik and Lavezzi, slightly behind the spearhead of Cavani, is crucial to helping Walter Mazzarri’s men to compete with City’s attacking power. Indeed, this fearsome threesome could cause Mancini to press pause on any cavalier attacking play.
Mazzarri has hailed Napoli’s continuous improvement, but asked the side’s fans to remember that, in contrast to their opponents, almost none of the club’s squad have Champions League experience. "The fans are right to dream", said Mazzarri. "It’s up to us to be balanced and to be professionals and to do the right things. And it’s right to consider Napoli as a team on the rise, but growth must complete. Just think about the fact that almost none of our squad have ever played a Champions League match. Wednesday will be a nice test and we’ll see what response we’re able to give."
Recent form
Manchester City:
Bolton Wanderers 2-3 Manchester City (21/08; Premier League)
Tottenham Hotspur 1-5 Manchester City (28/08; Premier League)
Manchester City 3-0 Wigan Athletic (10/09; Premier League)
Napoli:
Real Mallorca 0-1 Napoli (13/08; Friendly)
Barcelona 5-0 Napoli (22/08; Friendly)
Cesena 1-3 Napoli (10/09; Serie A)
Key absences
Manchester City: Gareth Barry (doubt); Nigel de Jong (doubt)
Napoli: Miguel Britos; Marco Donadel (doubt)
Players to watch
Manchester City – David Silva: The tricky Spaniard has tasted the Champions League with Valencia and his gamble, that dropping out of the competition to move to Eastlands would be a mere sojourn from it, has proven correct. Silva have been exceptional for City this season, weaving, darting, showing superb technique. And Europe will be a better stage than the Premier League for his abilities
Napoli – Ezequiel Lavezzi: An in-demand hitman, Argentine Lavezzi was linked with opponents City over the summer, but Napoli were always adamant that the striker would stay put. Mazzarri will trust that Lavezzi, who found the back of the net a disappointingly low nine times last season, can take whatever chances flow his way at Eastlands.
Match Prediction
Both these sides deserve to be here, but that is where the comparisons must end. City have an array of stars well used to this stage and the usual adaptation period any club needs upon moving up to the Champions League should not be needed for Roberto Mancini’s side.
Napoli have real talent and are capable of coming through the group, perhaps with City, but the Serie A giants will need time to settle in. An opener at Eastlands is not an easy introduction to the Champions League.
City should have too much for the Italians here. Manchester City 2-0 Napoli.
Who will come out on top in this Champions League match between Manchester City v Napoli? Check out OLBG.com where you can put your knowledge to use, find the best bookmakers and see the latest betting odds.
