Champions League PREVIEW | Union Berlin v Napoli

Napoli will aim to add momentum to their recent positive stride when they face Union Berlin tonight at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.

Napoli approach this match on the back of a convincing 3-1 victory against Verona. Matteo Politano’s 27th-minute strike and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s brace wrapped up the game for the visitors and rendered Darko Lazovic’s 60th-minute goal as a consolation for the hosts.

Rudi Garcia’s men will hope to return to winning ways in the Champions League after losing their second matchday to Real Madrid despite an inspired battle against the 14-time European champions. The defeat to Los Blancos was followed by another loss to Fiorentina in the league as the Neapolitans’ newly appointed manager hasn’t been able to deliver a string of positive results this season.

Meanwhile, Union Berlin will aim to shrug off their losing run of eight consecutive matches across all competitions. They have lost their last two fixture in the Champions League and are just two points adrift from the Bundesliga relegation zone. Urs Fischer’s men haven’t been able to replicate their performances from last season and have suffered greatly in this campaign’s initial stages. 

Results from their last five matches across all competitions

Union Berlin:

L L L L L 

Napoli:

W L L W W

Team News

Union Berlin will be without the likes of Alexander Schwolow, Andras Schafer, Laurenz Dehl, Josip Juranovic and Jerome Roussillon for tonight’s game.

Robin Knoche and Rani Khedira featured in their club’s previous outing and are expected to start.

As for Napoli, they will miss high-profile Victor Osimhen through an injury.

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Juan Jesus remain sidelined. Leo Ostigard might get the nod in defence.

Giacomo Raspadori will start.

Predicted XIs

Union Berlin (3-5-2): Ronnow; Doekhi, Bonucci, Leite; Knoche, Tousart, Kral, Laidouni, Gosens; Becker, Behrens

Napoli (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Natan, Olivera; Zielinski, Lobotka, Cajuste; Politano, Raspadori, Kvaratskhelia

Trambak Bhattacherjee | GIFN