In a midweek fixture that will determine the fate of their European seasons, Napoli and Chelsea meet at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
This is the final Matchday of the Champions League league phase, and both sides are fighting for their lives in the competition.
The narrative: master vs protégé
The dugout battle offers a fascinating contrast. Antonio Conte, the veteran who famously won the Premier League with Chelsea, now leads Napoli against his former club. Across from him stands Liam Rosenior, the young tactical innovator who was appointed Chelsea manager just weeks ago on January 6th.
18 games kicking off simultaneously on Wednesday 🤯#UCL pic.twitter.com/NwkUz8XDgQ
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 26, 2026
- Napoli (25th in UCL): The Partenopei are currently outside the play-off spots. After a crushing 3-0 loss to Juventus last weekend, they must avoid defeat—and likely need a win—to prevent a premature exit from Europe.
- Chelsea (8th in UCL): The Blues are on the bubble of automatic Round of 16 qualification. Sitting in the final automatic spot, a victory in Naples would spare them the treacherous play-off round in February.
Team news & probable lineups
Both squads are “walking wounded,” with long injury lists that will force both managers to get creative.
Napoli
Conte is missing the creative spark of Kevin De Bruyne and the defensive stability of Amir Rrahmani. The biggest Blow is the absence of Frank Anguissa in midfield, though on-loan striker Rasmus Højlund is fit and eager to prove a point against Premier League opposition.
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Probable XI (3-4-2-1): Meret; Beukema, Buongiorno, Juan Jesus; Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Vergara, Elmas; Højlund.
AC Chelsea
Rosenior is sweating on the fitness of Cole Palmer, who has been nursing a “niggle” but traveled with the squad. Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill are definitely out, meaning the backline will rely heavily on the leadership of Reece James and Benoît Badiashile.
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Probable XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Estêvão, Palmer (or Neto), Garnacho; João Pedro.
Player to watch: João Pedro
Since Rosenior’s arrival, João Pedro has become the focal point of the Chelsea attack.
Fresh off a crucial goal against Crystal Palace, his movement and ability to drop deep will be essential in dragging Conte’s disciplined back three out of position.
Key stats & betting tips
| Stat | Napoli | Chelsea |
| UCL Standing | 25th | 8th |
| Last Match | 0-3 Loss (vs Juventus) | 3-1 Win (vs Crystal Palace) |
| UCL Form | L-D-L-W | W-W-L-D |
Best Betting Tips
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Both Teams to Score (BTTS): Yes – 1.62 on 1xbet
Napoli are desperate and playing at home, where they rarely fail to score. Chelsea have found the net in 13 consecutive matches across all competitions. This has “end-to-end” written all over it.
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Total Goals: Over 1.5 – 1.22 on 1xbet
With Napoli needing a result to stay in the competition, they cannot afford to sit back. This open approach should play into Chelsea’s counter-attacking strengths.
