Napoli vs Ajax

Stadio Diego Armando Maradona is the venue as Napoli and Ajax go head-to-head in a handsomely-looking Champions League showdown.

Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli are unplayable these days as they followed up a 6-1 humbling of Ajax last week with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Serie A newcomers Cremonese at the weekend. ‘I Partenopei’ have taken the Champions League by storm this season, winning all three Group A matches via at least a three-goal margin, including a 4-1 trouncing of Liverpool in their only home game thus far. There’s a piece of history up for grabs as Napoli could become only the third Italian side to win their first four Champions League matches. Having racked up a sensational 13-2 aggregate score across the opening three rounds, they could also equal the record for the highest amount of goals scored by a Serie A club after the first four Champions League fixtures (14).

On the other hand, Ajax’s 5-0 thrashing of Group A whipping boys Rangers on day one looks like distant history, as they’ve lost consecutive Champions League games since via an aggregate score of 8-2. Back-to-back winless matches in Group A formed part of the Dutch side’s underwhelming four-game run without winning in all competitions (D1, L3) that they arrested by thumping Volendam 4-2 at the weekend. The ‘Lancers’ are all too aware another poor result in Naples, combined with Liverpool’s likely win at Rangers, would significantly derail their chances of reaching the knockouts. However, Alfred Schreuder’s team can find some inspiration knowing they’ve gone unbeaten across their last four Champions League visits to Italy (W2, D2). Stretching beyond the Italian borders, the visitors have avoided defeat in 21 of their previous 23 Champions League away games (W11, D10).