Preview: Napoli vs. Ajax
Napoli and Ajax meet at Stadio Maradona on Wednesday evening. The hosts are looking to secure a place in the Champions League knockout stage. Ajax need to win to stay in touch with Liverpool.
Napoli beat Ajax 6-1 in Amsterdam last week. Luciano Spalletti's side are top of Serie A after nine rounds. Ajax are second in the Eredivisie behind Liverpool. They have lost all three of their games in Europe. They need to win to have any chance of progressing from Group A. The knockout phase kicks off after the World Cup. A win for Ajax would see them qualify. For Napoli, it would be their first Champions League win. It would also be the first time they have progressed beyond the last 16.
Luciano Spalletti should have Victor Osimhen available again on Wednesday. Giacomo Raspadori and Giovanni Simeone will compete for one place up front. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has scored six Serie A goals already. Amir Rrahmani is an injury doubt for the match. Juan Jesus will probably start in place of him. Ajax's captain Dusan Tadic is suspended.
Napoli's possible starting XI: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Jesus, Kim, Olivera, Anguissa, Lobotka, Lozano, Zielinski, Kvaratskhelia, Raspadori.
Ajax's possible starting XI: Pasveer, Sanchez, Timber, Blind, Bassey, Klaasen, Alvarez, Taylor, Berghuis, Bergwijn, Calasens.
Napoli have won eight games in a row for the first time in their history. Ajax still have the scars from last week's defeat.
