Rangers-Napoli is a match valid for the second day of the Champions League group stage and is played on Wednesday at 21:00
RANGERS – NAPOLI
It had already happened that Napoli beat Liverpool at the “Maradona” but last Wednesday’s magical night will remain an indelible memory in the memory of every Neapolitan fan. A fantastic, perhaps unrepeatable evening for Luciano Spalletti’s team. Able to inflict a resounding lesson on the reigning European vice-champions, scrambled 4-1 in what was to all intents and purposes the Azzurri’s most dominant performance in recent years, one of the most prestigious victories at continental level. Suffice it to say that Napoli were 3-0 ahead at the end of the first half, a result that could have been even more rounded if Osimhen, subsequently injured – he will be out for at least a month – had not missed a penalty. It was a victory which, for the moment, projects Di Lorenzo and his team-mates to the top of Group A, where they are also joined by Ajax, who were devastating in their opener against Rangers (4-0).
The Scots, finalists of the last Europa League, will be Napoli’s next opponents: the match at Ibrox has been postponed by 24 hours due to police department restrictions necessitated by the national mourning events following the death of Queen Elizabeth. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men did not take to the pitch at the weekend (the match against Aberdeen was postponed) and will undoubtedly be more rested than Napoli. The coach will have had time to reflect on the two consecutive beatings a few days apart. First the collapse in the Glasgow derby against Celtic – another 4-0 – and then the debacle in Amsterdam against the unleashed Lancieri.
Napoli, on the other hand, continued to win, extending their winning streak to three. Against Spezia, the script was different and it took a goal a minute from the end by new signing Raspadori (1-0) to unblock the match and break down the Ligurian wall. Three points that allow the Azzurri to return to the top, arm in arm with Atalanta and Milan. Without the injured Osimhen, Spalletti will focus on “Cholito” Simeone, but Kim and Lobotka will also be back. Olivera is also likely to be present at left-back.
Davis and King
The Prediction
To come back with points in your pocket from a mystical place like Ibrox is never a foregone conclusion, even when the differences appear as marked as they do at the moment. The feeling, though, is that Napoli start as slight favourites. And that they will in any case manage to avoid defeat against a team that has lost badly in the last two matches and has appeared very fragile at the back. The total goals should be at least three.
Rangers v Napoli likely line-up
- RANGERS (4-3-2-1): McLaughlin; Tavernier, Sands, Goldson, Barisic; Lundstram, Davis, Kamara; Tillman, Kent; Colak.
- NAPOLI (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Kim, Olivera; Zambo Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Simeone, Kvaratskhelia.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
