Napoli vs Chelsea

The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona prepares for an electric, high-stakes finale tonight, Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Napoli hosts Chelsea in a clash that will define the European seasons for both clubs.

For Antonio Conte, it’s a reunion with the club he once led to Premier League glory, but there is no room for sentiment. Napoli enters the night in 25th place (8 points) and must win to leapfrog into the top 24 for a playoff spot. Chelsea, sitting in 8th place (13 points) under new boss Liam Rosenior, needs all three points to guarantee an automatic ticket to the Round of 16 and avoid the February "lottery."

Match Information

Napoli: Conte’s "Must-Win" Mission

The reigning Serie A champions have found their European campaign surprisingly difficult. Coming off a bruising 3–0 loss to Juventus over the weekend, Napoli is struggling with both form and fitness. However, their home record remains a fortress; they haven't been beaten at the Maradona since December 2024.

Team News and Selection:

• Injury Crisis: Napoli’s medical room is at capacity. Kevin De Bruyne (hamstring), Frank Anguissa (back), Amir Rrahmani (thigh), and former Blue Billy Gilmour are all ruled out.

• The "McTominay" Threat: Scott McTominay has been the standout performer, scoring four headers in the UCL this term. He will be the primary target for set-pieces.

• Striker Watch: Rasmus Højlund is expected to lead the line, supported by Eljif Elmas

• Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Juan Jesus; Mazzocchi, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Elmas, Politano; Højlund.

Chelsea: The Rosenior Revolution

Since Liam Rosenior took over from Enzo Maresca, Chelsea has looked revitalized, winning four of their last five matches. A clinical 3–1 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday moved them back into the Premier League top four, and they now look to translate that momentum to the continental stage.

Team News and Selection:

• Palmer's Return: In a massive boost, Cole Palmer has traveled with the squad after missing two games with a thigh strain. He may start on the bench as a "break glass" option.

• Absences: Levi Colwill (ACL), Romeo Lavia (thigh), and Tosin Adarabioyo are out. Mykhailo Mudryk remains unavailable due to his ongoing suspension.

• Youthful Spark: Teenager Estêvão has been the star of Chelsea's European campaign with 3 goals, while Liam Delap is favored to start up front.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Andrey Santos; Estêvão, Enzo Fernández, Garnacho; Delap.

Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats

• The 2012 Legend: The only previous competitive meetings were in 2012. Napoli won 3–1 in Italy, but Chelsea famously won the return leg 4–1 en route to their first Champions League title

• Home Fortress: Napoli has lost only one of their last 20 home Champions League matches (W12, D7)

• Away Woes: Chelsea is winless in their last five UCL away games (D1, L4) and has historically struggled in Italy, winning only two of their last 13 trips

• Midfield Battle: Enzo Fernández is the second-most fouled player in the competition (16), highlighting his role as Chelsea's primary playmaker.

Tactical Analysis and Prediction

Napoli will rely on Conte's signature defensive organization, looking to frustrate Chelsea and strike via McTominay's late runs or Højlund's pace. Given Napoli's injury list in midfield, they may surrender possession and focus on high-efficiency counters.

Chelsea’s approach under Rosenior focuses on patient buildup and high passing accuracy (hitting a record 94.5% last week). The key will be whether Caicedo and Santos can control the tempo in a hostile atmosphere. If Chelsea can survive the initial 20-minute "volcano" of noise from the home crowd, their superior attacking depth should give them the edge late in the game.

Final Score Prediction: Napoli 1–2 Chelsea