The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Champions League: Neapolitan madness to conquer Europe

2023-02-20T22:01:36.466Z


Impressive in Serie A, Naples has arguments to shine at European level and intends to show it this Tuesday, in the round of 16 first leg, against Frankfurt.


Under the watchful eye of Maradona, it's the 'Dolce vita' for Napoli this season.

Well ahead of the championship with 15 points ahead of Inter Milan, its runner-up, Naples is irresistible (the ranking here).

After 33 years of waiting, the title seems promised to a team that impresses.

Best attack and best defense of Calcio, the Napoli of Luciano Spaletti leaves only crumbs to its competitors.

So when Europe presents itself, the question inevitably arises: can the Neapolitans dream of winning the Champions League?

To discover

  • Champions League fixtures and results

Best attack of the group stage, Napoli had created the surprise by winning 4-1 against Liverpool on the first day.

Intensity, pressing, technical quality and efficiency, the foundations were laid and made it possible to nurture high hopes.

Five months later, the promises are kept and make Napoli one of the most exciting teams in Europe.

In full confidence at the best of times

With the approach of its 8th final against Eintracht Frankfurt, Naples advances in complete confidence.

Despite losing their invincibility in the first game of 2023, a 1-0 defeat against Inter, the Italian leader has bounced back perfectly.

Before the meeting on Tuesday (9 p.m.), Napoli remain on three victories, as a boss, and above all without conceding a single goal.

The Rrahmani / Kim pair, which completely made Kalidou Koulibaly forget, is intractable.

This is also what Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner pointed out in a press conference: “

Napoli cannot be reduced to their attack alone.

They have excellent balance and concede few goals

.

Kim Min-Jae in the duel against Tammy Abraham (AS Roma) ANDREAS SOLARO / AFP

Few teams have really hooked Napoli this season.

In January, AS Roma tried but lost 2-1.

A match which confirmed the opinion of the “Special One”, José Mourinho, on this team: “

They have already won the championship.

Congratulations to them.

Beyond being very good, this team has the luck of the champion.

And I know something, because I won eight championships: in key moments, the star lights up for you

”.

Already impressive, if fate mingles with this crazy Neapolitan team, it is hard to see what could stop it.

The shadow of Diego Maradona hangs over Napoli

How not to think about it?

Diego Armando Maradona, who died in 2020, alone embodies the Naples club.

What if fate wished to pay tribute to him in this 2022-23 season?

So many signs lend themselves to it.

After Argentina crowned world champion, the memory of El Pibe de Oro seems to want to guide Napoli to the heights.

The last title of the Gli Azzurri, the second, dates back to 1990.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the Georgian nugget who arrived last summer, inherited a nickname in homage to Diego: Kvaradona.

And the least we can say is that he gives it back to the Neapolitan tifosis.

A thrilling Napoli player, he is capable of changing the course of a match on his own, like his illustrious predecessor.

Good news, he has been in very good shape in recent weeks.

Along with his attacking partner Victor Osimhen, he martyred all Italian defences.

In 2023, the two friends are involved in 16 of Napoli's 19 goals!

A dependency which could however be on the brakes in Europe.

Dependence and lack of experience

As strong as they are, Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will not be able to do everything together.

Especially when the level rises.

Inevitably, Luciano Spaletti will therefore have to rely on his complementary players who are Lozano, Politano and Simeone.

If in Serie A, they manage to make themselves valuable, doubt remains at the highest level.

Because this is the other question around this young workforce without an apparent leader.

Will they have the shoulders strong enough to face the best teams of the Old Continent?

Of the eleven players who usually start, only three have already experienced a Champions League knockout phase (Mario Rui, Di Lorenzo and Zielinski).

Rather happy in the draw by inheriting Eintracht Frankfurt (they could have fallen against Liverpool or Paris), the vast majority of Neapolitans will experience a baptism of fire on Tuesday.

Away, in Germany, they will have to show Europe that their league run is no illusion.

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2023-02-20

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.