Napoli vs Chelsea Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | League Phase

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Antonio Conte needs a massive result against former club Chelsea this week as his out of form Napoli side welcome the Blues to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Kick-off date/time: 28 January 2026 at 8:00 pm

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+

Napoli preview: Push for the top 24

Napoli head into the final match day of the league phase of the UEFA Champions League sitting just outside of the top 24 on goal difference after a very frustrating 1-1 draw with ten-man Danish champions FC Copenhagen last week.

Napoli’s poor form continued at the weekend as they succumbed to a 3-0 hammering at the hands of Juventus at the Allianz Stadium in Turin due to strikes from Jonathan David, Kenan Yildiz and Filip Kostic for the Bianconeri.

Chelsea preview: Rosenior’s Chelsea

Following the appointment of Liam Rosenior, Chelsea sit tucked inside the top eight in the UEFA Champions League league phase, with a slender but unconvincing 1-0 defeat of Pafos at Stamford Bridge last week.

Chelsea have made it four victories and one defeat across all competitions since the arrival of Rosenior, with the Blues having defeated Crystal Palace by three goals to one at Selhurst Park the other day.

Napoli team news: Milinkovic-Savic out

First-choice goalkeeper Alex Meret has returned to full fitness, which is handy timing as Vanja Milinkovic-Savic is now sidelined for the hosts due to a strain.

Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Juan; Spinazzola, Lobotka, McTominay, Gutierrez; Vergara, Elmas; Hojlund

Unavailable: Milinkovic-Savic (Injured), Rrahmani (Injured), Gilmour (Injured), Anguissa (Injured), De Bruyne (Injured), Mazzocchi (Injured), Politano (Injured), Neres (Injured), Giovane (Ineligible)

Questionable: 

Chelsea team news: Palmer a doubt

Cole Palmer missed out against Crystal Palace and is a fitness doubt for the trip to Naples. Aaron Anselmino has been recalled from Borussia Dortmund but he is still not a part of Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League squad.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; James, Caicedo; Estevao, Fernandez, Neto; Pedro

Unavailable: Adarabioyo (Injured), Anselmino (Ineligible), Colwill (Injured), Disasi (Ineligible), Essugo (Injured), Lavia (Injured), Mudryk (Disciplinary), Sterling (Ineligible) 

Questionable: Jorgensen (Injured), Palmer (Injured)

Napoli vs Chelsea prediction

That loss to Juventus the other day saw Napoli slip to fourth in Serie A and, with injuries and fatigue amid woeful performances and a struggle with the intensity of playing UEFA Champions League and Serie A football, means that the Partenopei have managed just one win in their last six matches. Chelsea have shown some susceptibility at the back but Napoli have shown no impetus in attack and so a low-scoring encounter in favour of the away team would appear a good bet for this one at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples.

Napoli vs Chelsea Tip: Double chance – Chelsea to win or draw