Copenhagen vs Napoli Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
Updated
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Danish champions FC Copenhagen sit tucked inside the top 24 in the UEFA Champions League as they welcome Italian champions Napoli to the Parken Stadion this week.
Kick-off date/time:
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Copenhagen preview: In the fight
FC Copenhagen began their campaign with a draw and then three successive defeats but, under the management of Jacob Neestrup, the Danes have put themselves into the top 24 and the knockout playoff spots with two games to go.
That is because of back-to-back victories in the league phase with a 3-2 win against Kazakh champions Kairat Almaty before a surprising 3-2 win in Spain against a Villarreal side that have massively underperformed in this campaign.
Napoli preview: Just in the hunt
Antonio Conte, whether it be Chelsea, Juventus or even Internazionale, has always struggled to compete in both domestic and European competitions and the same has happened again with the Neapolitans just inside the top 24.
The Partenopei have managed two victories, a draw and three defeats in their six matches thus far with just six goals scored in those games. They most recently edged past Sassuolo by a goal to nil at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at the weekend.
Copenhagen team news: No Robert
Midfielder Magnus Mattsson and defender Rodrigo Huescas have been longer term absentees for the hosts, while Brazilian forward Robert Silva is also now sidelined.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Kotarski; Zague, Pereira, Suzuki, Lopez; Clem, Madsen; Larsson, Elyounoussi, Claesson; Dadason
Unavailable: Myrie (Ineligible), Mattsson (Injured), Huescas (Injured), Robert (Injured)
Questionable:
Napoli team news: Midfield injuries
Kevin De Bruyne remains an injury issue for Napoli this week alongside fellow midfielders Billy Gilmour and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Buongiorno, Juan; Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Lang, Hojlund, Ambrosino
Unavailable: Meret (Injured), Gilmour (Injured), Anguissa (Injured), De Bruyne (Injured)
Questionable: Rrahmani (Injured), Elmas (Injured), Politano (Injured), Neres (Injured), Lukaku (Injured)
Copenhagen vs Napoli prediction
This is an intriguing one because the two sides have been very different in the way in which they have approached the league phase of the UEFA Champions League. FC Copenhagen have been quite entertaining to watch, while Napoli have been extremely tedious for the neutral. However, the visitors may well be dragged out into a more entertaining clash as both sides need a win to assure themselves of a top 24 spot.
Copenhagen vs Napoli Tip: Both teams to score
