In the middle of December last year, Napoli missed a great chance to eliminate Liverpool already in the group at "Anfield". Alison Becker then saved the zicer from Arkadiusz Milik in stoppage time, thus the 1:0 victory that launched the Reds into the round of XNUMX, and sent the Neapolitans to the Europa League as a punishment...
Just under seven months later, Liverpool won the Champions League and now the 2019/20 season. opens precisely against Napoli in the derby - the favorites of Group E, which also includes Salzburg and Genk, will meet from 21:XNUMX in Naples. Unlike last season, when they fought with Paris Saint-Germain and Red Star, the English and Italian representative should have no problems on their way to the knockout stage.
- Our first goal is to pass the group, and the second is to show in duels with the best teams in Europe that we have improved compared to last season - said Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti.
The Italian legendary coach knows Liverpool well. As a player and coach, he participated in three Cup/Champions League finals against the giants from the city of the Beatles. He was defeated as a player in 1984 with Roma, and in 2005 as a coach with Milan.
LIVERPOOL AND CARLETTO'S DISAPPOINTMENTS
- Liverpool is responsible for the two biggest disappointments in my football life, but also for the joy when I won the Champions League with Milan in 2007. However, I have sympathy for that club, as well as for "Anfield" - said Ancelotti.
And this Liverpool deserves nothing but praise.
- He has acquired a routine of winning, he looks great on the field, he plays as if by automatism. Now it is a realistic favorite for the title in the Premier League and the Champions League - said the Napoli coach.
Jurgen Klopp, on the other hand, expects a motivated Napoli.
- What do I expect? I don't know, I'm entering the Champions League for the first time as the current champion, so I really have no idea how it will be. What I know is that Napoli will be very motivated, not only because the European champion is coming to them, but also because they were relegated from Europe due to our two duels last season - the German points out.
BARS IN DORTMUND, INTER BIG FAVORITE
Group F is better known as the "group of death" - Barcelona, Borussia and Inter are chasing two places for the round of 2016, and there is also the total outsider Slavia from Prague. Barca, who won the last title in XNUMX, have a tough job at the start in Dortmund.
- This is not the best moment to visit a team like Borussia, but in the Champions League you cannot divide rivals into better and weaker teams - said the coach of "Blaugrana" Ernesto Valverde. "Millionaire" coach Lucien Favre mentioned the legendary Johan Cruyff before the arrival of Barca.
- It is always exciting when you meet such a giant as Barça. More than 25 years ago, 199 to be exact, I spent two weeks in Barça's training camp and followed the work of Johan Cruyff. That was a big inspiration for me - says Favre.
Inter opened the season in Serie A very well, they won all three, and now they want to continue the streak in Europe. The rival is Slavija... - I want stability in the game. We are on the right track, but we do not get carried away that Slavija will be an easy task - emphasized Inter coach Antonio Conte.
Chelsea and Valencia play in the Group H derby, Benfica plays Leipzig in Lisbon, while Ajax, the semi-finalist last season, will welcome Lille...
PAIRS 1. CARS
TODAY
GROUP E
Napoli - Liverpool 21.00 Salzburg - Genk 21.00
GROUP F Inter - Slavia Prague 18.55 Borussia D. - Barcelona 21.00
GROUP G
Lyon - Zenit 18.55 Benfica - Leipzig 21.00
GROUP H
Chelsea - Valencia 21.00 Ajax - Lille 21.00
WEDNESDAY
GROUP A
Club Brugge - Galatasaray 18.55:21.00 PSG - Real Madrid XNUMX:XNUMX
GROUP B Olympiakos - Tottenham 18.55 Bayern - Crvena zvezda 21.00
GROUP C Shakhtar - Manchester City 21.00 Dinamo Zagreb - Atalanta 21.00
GROUP D Atletico M. - Juventus 21.00 Bayer - Lokomotiva 21.00
Bonus video:
