Napoli take on Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League next week, with the Italian side needing to win if they are to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout phase of the competition. Their Ukrainian opponents have three wins to their name already, putting them in pole position to join Manchester City in the latter stages.
Champions League – Stadio San Paolo, Naples – Tuesday 21st November – 19:45 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 18/5 at Skybet |
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Napoli
Shakhtar DonetskMatch Preview
Serie A leaders Napoli face a must-win encounter with Shakhtar Donetsk next week, with Maurizio Sarri’s men so far unable to bring their domestic form into their European campaign. A point for the visitors would secure their place in the knockout phase of this season’s Champions League, meaning that the emphasis will be on Napoli to go for broke when they face-off at the Stadio San Paolo next week. Despite Napoli being the favourites for victory, there are a whole host of appealing markets found at online bookmakers. For those still unsure of who to back, let’s take a closer look at the two teams, starting with the home side. As well as this, we provide our top betting tip ahead of kick-off.
Napoli Team News & Form
Napoli head into this match off the back of a disappointing 4-2 home defeat to Group F leaders Manchester City last time around, leaving Maurizio Sarri’s men in danger of missing out on a place in the knockout stages of the competition. Despite having started their domestic campaign in fine style, with Napoli being unbeaten in their opening 12 matches, the Italian giants only win in Europe so far came at home against Feyenoord. However, with the likes of Dries Mertens, Jose Callejon and Lorenzo Insigne in attack, Napoli are a team always capable of winning any game. It is at the back where Napoli have struggled the most, conceding nine goals in their four matches to date.
Shakhtar Donetsk Team News & Form
The Ukrainian champions have been one of the surprise packages of this season’s Champions League so far, with Paulo Fonseca’s team having won three of their four matches. Their only defeat came at the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City, a game in which they could well have won themselves. Their Brazilian trio of Bernard, Detinho and Taison could well cause Napoli trouble on the counter attack, while Captain Darijo Srna has huge experience in this competition.
Head to Head
The two teams met for the first time back in September, where goals from Taison and Facundo Ferreyra helped Shakhtar to a 2-1 victory in the Ukraine.
Betting Odds and Predictions
Despite having won just one match in the Champions League so far this season, it is Napoli who are the favourites for victory in Italy next week. The Serie A side can be backed at odds of 9/20 with Ladbrokes, while the same bookmaker has the away side at a price of 6/1.
Top Betting Tip
However, our top betting tip for the match is to bet on there being over 2.5 goals during the 90 minutes, which can be found at best odds of 4/9 with Ladbrokes.