Europa League: It’s All to Play For in Naples

Napoli vs Leicester City

When Napoli and Leicester met in September in their opening Europa League group match, I described it as the beginning of a European adventure for the ultimate achievers.

A meeting of two clubs who have triumphed memorably against the odds in spectacular fashion.

Granted, Napoli possessed the best player in the world in Diego Maradona when they were winning Serie A titles and the UEFA Cup – the forerunner to the Europa League – in the late 1980s and early 90s.

Yet they were still up against the mighty Juventus and clubs from Milan, one of which was European champions in successive seasons and had the likes of Ruud Gullit, Franco Baresi and Marco van Basten in its ranks.

If Napoli’s glory years were wonderful, Leicester City’s case proved the ultimate modern fairytale: 2016 Premier League champions which has since been followed up this year by FA Cup success – tales which will live in the memory long after you and I have departed this world.

In the first few months of 2021/22, one club has stayed on course, while the other has had more of a rollercoaster time, yet both remain exciting works in progress.

Now, with the outcome of Group C on a knife edge going into this fixture in Naples on Thursday evening, I am fully anticipating Europa League 2021 highlights.

Talking Points

With just two points separating all four sides in the group – Spartak Moscow (who the Foxes’ young Patson Daka particularly enjoyed facing) and Legia Warsaw are the others – it is certainly all to play for as Luciano Spalletti and Brendan Rodgers go head-to-head.

Both saw their teams suffer frustrating domestic defeats at the weekend.

In the Partenopei’s defence, they were without Victor Osimhen, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Kalidou Koulibaly, Fabián Ruiz and Lorenzo Insigne.

Their manager concocted a brand new 3-4-3 in a bid to mirror opponents Atalanta and only just fell short, going down in a five-goal thriller – a contest so exciting that even Napoli’s supporters offered an ovation to both teams at full time.

For Leicester, there were fewer mitigating factors but more irritation from Rodgers that his team was unable to defend set-pieces in a 2-1 reverse at Aston Villa.

Indeed, the Foxes’ failings from set-plays – with 10 league goals conceded from such situations this term – is something Rodgers described post-match as ‘our Achilles heel’.

They can ill-afford a repeat in Italy where they will be missing Ricardo Pereira, Wesley Fofana, James Justin and Nampalys Mendy, while influential midfielder Youri Tielemans is a doubt as he continues his recovery from injury.

For the hosts, Anguissa, Osimhen and Koulibaly remain out, while captain Lorenzo Insigne and Fabian Ruiz face a race to be fit.

The similarities between these clubs don’t just stretch to lifting honours against the established big hitters.

Both finished fifth in their domestic league last season after missing out on Champions League qualification on the final day.

Leicester won their Europa League group last season before bowing out, surprisingly, to Slavia Prague. Napoli also suffered a shock defeat to La Liga outfit Granada in the knockout stages.

At this stage, there’s no guarantee both will it even make it this far on Thursday.

Indeed, the fine balance of the group was perfectly demonstrated a fortnight ago when Leicester’s 3-1 victory over Legia Warsaw saw them propelled from the foot of proceedings to the top.

It is to this backdrop, and the fact they appear two evenly matched sides, that Thursday could be a tense evening.

History

These sides had never met until three months ago when they drew 2-2 in Leicester’s first-ever encounter with Italian opponents in UEFA competition.

On that occasion, Osimhen scored twice in the second half after Ayoze Perez and Harvey Barnes had given Leicester a 2-0 lead.

Betting Tip

	Napoli vs Leicester City	Over 2.75 @ 2.00
	December 10, 1:45 (GMT+8)

Napoli have the slight edge with the SBOTOP Europa League 2021 betting odds which price them 1X2 @ 2.11 with the Foxes available @ 2.90 and the draw on offer @ 3.30.

With Asian Handicap odds it is pretty similar with options on the hosts including -0.50 @ 2.12 and Leicester -0.25 @ 2.09 and 0.00 @ 2.38.

That has caught my eye as has a repeat of their 2-2 draw which Correct Score will pay out on @ 12.50.

I keep changing my mind on the outcome of this and think Jamie Vardy, rested at the weekend, could make the difference in Leicester’s favour.

Then I wonder if Rodgers, knowing his side does not need to win, will keep it tight and whether or not that could backfire.

In the end I am plumping for a high-scoring affair, with over 2.75 goals.

 

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