SSC Napoli will hope to put their Serie A defeat behind them when they welcome Sporting CP on Wednesday night.
Napoli will be eager to steady the ship in Europe when they welcome Sporting CP to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday night for their second Champions League league-phase fixture. The reigning Serie A champions endured a frustrating return to continental action, while their Portuguese counterparts made an emphatic statement in their opening match.
For Antonio Conte’s men, their Champions League campaign began in the worst possible fashion. Captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s red card for a foul on Erling Haaland left Napoli down to 10 men after just 20 minutes against Manchester City. Goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic worked tirelessly to keep the scoreline level with a string of saves, but the holders eventually broke through, as Haaland etched his name into the record books by becoming the fastest player to reach 50 goals in the competition.
With just a single shot attempted all game, Napoli’s attacking bite was blunted, and they ultimately slumped to a 2-0 defeat. It marked their first loss of the season, and one that punctured their perfect start. The defeat was followed by another setback at San Siro, where they lost 2-1 to AC Milan despite a Kevin De Bruyne penalty sparking a brief fightback. Conte’s side have now lost two of their last three outings, a sharp contrast to their flawless domestic opening.
Even so, the Partenopei boast a formidable European record at home, having lost just four of their last 30 Champions League matches in Naples. Confidence will be high that they can reignite their continental charge, especially given their past history with Sporting. Though their two previous encounters with the Lisbon club both finished goalless, Napoli advanced on penalties from a UEFA Cup tie in 1989.
For Sporting CP, meanwhile, the mood is one of momentum and optimism. Francisco Trincão was the star of the show in their first Champions League outing, scoring twice in a dominant 4-1 win over debutants Kairat at Estadio Jose Alvalade. The victory ensured the Lions head into this clash brimming with confidence.
Domestically, new coach Rui Borges has made a flying start to his tenure. Sporting have won six of their seven Primeira Liga games, including a gritty 1-0 derby victory against Estoril last weekend courtesy of Luis Suarez’s early goal. With that result, they leapfrogged rivals Benfica into second place, just behind leaders Porto.
Defensively solid, with just four goals conceded in the league, and boasting an attack that has found the net in eight consecutive matches across competitions, Sporting arrive in Naples as a dangerous outfit. However, history does not favour them in Italy: they have never won in 17 visits, losing 13 times, with their only clean sheet dating back to their 1989 stalemate against Napoli.
With heavyweight clashes against Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Juventus looming later in the group, Sporting know that a result in Naples could prove decisive in their quest to avoid the playoff round and secure a direct round of 16 berth. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
SSC Napoli
Napoli’s defensive depth continues to be a concern for Antonio Conte heading into Wednesday’s clash. The Partenopei were without Amir Rrahmani, Mathias Olivera, Leonardo Spinazzola, and Alessandro Buongiorno against AC Milan, leaving them shorthanded at the back. To add to the headaches, Luca Marianucci, who was drafted into the starting XI at San Siro, is not included on Napoli’s Champions League squad list and therefore cannot feature in midweek.
Captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo is suspended after his red card against Manchester City, meaning Conte will once again have to reshuffle his defensive options. Of the absentees, only Leonardo Spinazzola and Mathias Olivera are expected to return in time, though neither is at full fitness, and they may be thrust into action in a makeshift backline.
In attack, Romelu Lukaku remains a long-term absentee and will not be available for several more weeks. As a result, the burden of leading the line falls on the young strikers, with Lorenzo Lucca and Rasmus Hojlund competing for a starting berth.
Antonio Conte is expected to line up his side in a 4-1-4-1 formation. Alex Meret will take his place in goal, shielded by a back four of Leonardo Spinazzola at right-back, Sam Beukema and Juan Jesus as the central defensive pairing, and Miguel Gutierrez on the left side.
Sitting in the holding midfield role will be Stanislav Lobotka, tasked with breaking up Sporting’s counterattacks and initiating play from deep. Ahead of him, Matteo Politano will occupy the right flank, with Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Kevin De Bruyne, and Scott McTominay forming the central midfield unit, while also providing attacking thrust. Rasmus Hojlund is expected to spearhead the attack as the lone striker, using his strength and movement to trouble the Sporting defence.
Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Meret; Spinazzola, Beukema, Jesus, Gutierrez; Lobotka; Politano, Anguissa, De Bruyne, McTominay; Hojlund
Sporting CP
Sporting CP will travel to Naples without a few important names. Daniel Braganca, Nuno Santos, and Ousmane Diomande are all ruled out due to injuries, limiting Rui Borges’s flexibility in both defence and midfield. However, there was a boost at the weekend as first-choice goalkeeper Rui Silva returned from an injury layoff, regaining his place between the posts.
Leading the line will be Luis Suarez, who has made an explosive start to life in Lisbon. The Colombian striker recently scored four times for his national team earlier this month and arrives in this fixture full of confidence. Behind him, Sporting will again rely on the creativity of their talented attackers, including Geovany Quenda and Portuguese duo Pedro “Pote” Goncalves and Francisco Trincao. Together, they form a fluid attacking unit capable of stretching Napoli’s reshuffled backline.
Rui Borges is expected to deploy Sporting in a 4-2-3-1 system. Rui Silva will start in goal, with Iván Fresneda at right-back, Goncalo Inacio and Zeno Debast operating as the central defensive pairing, and Maxi Araujo at left-back.
In midfield, the double pivot will be formed by Morten Hjulmand and Giorgi Kochorashvili, offering a mix of physicality, ball-winning ability, and composure in possession. Further forward, Geovany Quenda will provide directness from the right flank, Francisco Trincao will drift in from the opposite side, and Pedro Goncalves will operate as the central playmaker in the No. 10 role. At the tip of the attack, Luis Suarez will lead the line, looking to exploit spaces and continue his fine scoring run.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Silva; Fresneda, Inacio, Debast, Araujo; Hjulmand, Kochorashvili; Quenda, Trincao, Goncalves; Suarez
Key Stats
- The two clubs have previously met only once in European competition, in the 1989/90 UEFA Cup first round, with both matches ending 0-0. Napoli progressed on penalties to advance.
- Napoli boast a flawless record against Portuguese opposition in the UEFA Champions League, having won all four of their encounters. This includes victories over Benfica in 2016-17 and Braga twice in 2023/24, all in the group stage.
- Sporting CP have never won away in Italy in any European competition. Out of 18 attempts, they have drawn five and lost 13. Their only clean sheet on Italian soil was against Napoli back in 1989 (0-0 in the UEFA Cup).
- Napoli manager Antonio Conte has faced Sporting twice in the Champions League during his career, when in charge of Tottenham (2022/23 group stage). He failed to win either match, recording one draw and one defeat.
- Sporting CP will aim to win their first two games of a Champions League campaign for only the second time in their history. The first occasion came in 2022/23 under Ruben Amorim, when they beat Eintracht Frankfurt (3-0) and Tottenham Hotspur (2-0).
Player to Watch
Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne remains one of the most influential playmakers in world football, and his role for Napoli is even more significant in high-stakes fixtures like this one. Since joining the Italian champions, he has seamlessly integrated into Antonio Conte’s system, bringing with him the vision, creativity, and leadership that made him a legend in the Premier League.
De Bruyne’s range of passing is second to none, whether it is threading delicate through-balls into space or delivering precise crosses from wide areas. His ability to dictate the tempo of the game ensures Napoli maintain control in midfield, while his knack for arriving late in the box makes him a constant scoring threat. The Belgian midfielder also has a reputation for stepping up on big European nights, often producing decisive moments that swing matches in his team’s favour.
Against Sporting CP, De Bruyne’s battle in the middle of the park will be crucial. With Sporting boasting energetic midfielders like Morten Hjulmand and Giorgi Kochorashvili, Napoli will look to De Bruyne’s experience and composure to break down their compact lines. His link-up play with forwards like Rasmus Hojlund and Matteo Politano could be the key to unlocking a stubborn Portuguese defence.
If Napoli are to bounce back from their opening defeat to Manchester City, Kevin De Bruyne’s creativity and leadership will be central to their chances of taking all three points.
Prediction
SSC Napoli 2-1 Sporting CP
This fixture brings together two sides with contrasting Champions League starts. Napoli suffered a tough opening defeat against Manchester City, made worse by Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s early red card, while Sporting CP began their campaign in emphatic style with a 4-1 home win over Kairat.
Napoli’s record at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Europe is formidable, with just four defeats in 30 Champions League home games. Despite injuries at the back and Romelu Lukaku’s continued absence, Antonio Conte’s men still boast a strong squad anchored by Kevin De Bruyne, Stanislav Lobotka, and Scott McTominay. With Rasmus Hojlund up front, they should have enough firepower to trouble Sporting’s defence.
Sporting arrive in Naples with confidence, having started well both in the league and in Europe, but their historical struggles in Italy cannot be ignored. They have never won away to an Italian side in European competition (D5 L13), and Stadio Maradona is one of the toughest venues in Europe to change that record.
Expect Sporting to be competitive and dangerous in transitions through Francisco Trincao and Pote Goncalves, while Luis Suarez will look to continue his hot scoring form. However, Napoli’s midfield quality and home advantage should tilt the balance. Napoli to bounce back with a narrow but hard-fought win, with Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings and Rasmus Hojlund likely to find the net.
