Napoli will aim to add momentum to their recent positive stride when they face Union Berlin tonight at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
Napoli approach this match on the back of a convincing 3-1 victory against Verona. Matteo Politanoโs 27th-minute strike and Khvicha Kvaratskheliaโs brace wrapped up the game for the visitors and rendered Darko Lazovicโs 60th-minute goal as a consolation for the hosts.
Rudi Garciaโs men will hope to return to winning ways in the Champions League after losing their second matchday to Real Madrid despite an inspired battle against the 14-time European champions. The defeat to Los Blancos was followed by another loss to Fiorentina in the league as the Neapolitansโ newly appointed manager hasnโt been able to deliver a string of positive results this season, bringing about questions regarding his long term future.ย
Meanwhile, Union Berlin will aim to shrug off their losing run of eight consecutive matches across all competitions. They have lost their last two fixture in the Champions League and are just two points adrift from the Bundesliga relegation zone. Urs Fischerโs men havenโt been able to replicate their performances from last season and have suffered greatly in this campaignโs initial stages.ย
Results from their last five matches across all competitions
Union Berlin:
L L L L Lย
Napoli:
W L L W W
Team News
Union Berlin will be without the likes of Alexander Schwolow,ย Andras Schafer,ย Laurenz Dehl,ย Josip Juranovicย andย Jerome Roussillon for tonightโs game.
Robin Knoche and Rani Khedira featured in their clubโs previous outing and are expected to start.
As for Napoli, they will miss high-profile Victor Osimhen through an injury.
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Juan Jesus remain sidelined. Leo Ostigard might get the nod in defence.
Giacomo Raspadori will start.
Predicted XIs
Union Berlin (3-5-2): Ronnow; Doekhi, Bonucci, Leite; Knoche, Tousart, Kral, Laidouni, Gosens; Becker, Behrens
Napoli (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Natan, Olivera; Zielinski, Lobotka, Cajuste; Politano, Raspadori, Kvaratskhelia
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Trambak Bhattacherjee | GIFN
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