Napoli vs Qarabag Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
Updated
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Italian champions Napoli have been way below par in the UEFA Champions League as they welcome Azeri champions to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona this week.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+
Napoli preview: Difficulties in the UCL
Antonio Conte has, famously, always struggled in Europe, despite a remarkable domestic managerial record, with the Partenopei again struggling in this season’s UEFA Champions League.
The Neapolitans began with a defeat to Manchester City before beating Sporting CP. However, their last two matches have seen them beaten 6-2 by PSV Eindhoven before a goalless draw with Eintracht Frankfurt in Naples.
Qarabag preview: Strong Qarabag
Having emerged as a competitive force in UEFA competitions in recent seasons, Qarabag have been very impressive in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League with two victories and a draw in their four matches.
They are perhaps a little unfortunate, though, for it to not be three wins as they most recently shared a 2-2 draw against English giants Chelsea a few weeks ago in a game in which they had a 2-1 lead in the second-half and were the better of the two sides.
Napoli team news: Several injuries
If Napoli were to name their strongest possible eleven then they would arguably be without at least four of them as Billy Gilmour, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku are sidelined for the hosts.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, McTominay, Gutierrez; Politano, Hojlund, Neres
Unavailable: Gilmour (Injured), Anguissa (Injured), De Bruyne (Injured), Lukaku (Injured)
Questionable: Spinazzola (Injured)
Qarabag team news: Fully fit
As they make the trip to Naples this week, Qarabag can name their strongest eleven for this one as they have no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues in their squad.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Kochalski; Silva, Mustafazade, Medina, Jafarguliyev; Bicalho, Jankovic; Zoubir, Andrade, Addai; Duran
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Napoli vs Qarabag prediction
Antonio Conte and his Napoli side are beginning to become a bit desperate in the UEFA Champions League as they head into the second-half of the league phase. It is therefore poor timing for them to have something of an injury crisis, given how hard-working their style is. Qarabag have a fair bit of flair in the final third and have been unfortunate in the two games that they haven’t won. Qarabag scoring remains a good value bet here.
Napoli vs Qarabag Tip: Qarabag to score 1 or more goals
