Napoli look to extend their 3-game winning streak in all competitions and remain top of Group A, while Rangers look to bounce back from consecutive 4-0 defeats.
Rangers FC
Rangers have been one of the busiest clubs in all of Europe. Between the Scottish Premiership, Champions League qualifying and the Scottish Cup, Rangers have played 12 competitive matches since July 30th – 2 matches per week for the last seven weeks.
Rangers are currently second in the Premiership with a record of four wins, one draw and one loss, but find themselves five points back Celtic after suffering a 4-0 defeat at the hands of their bitter rivals.
Rangers followed that performance up with a 4-0 defeat to Ajax in their opening match of the Group Stage.
SSC Napoli
Napoli come into this match in fine form. They’ve won three straight matches in all competitions since suffering back-to-back draws against Fiorentina and Lecce.
After an impressive, come-from-behind victory over Lazio in Serie A, Napoli shocked Liverpool with a 4-0 victory to open the Group Stage of the Champions League.
With Victor Osimhen injured, Napoli relied on summer signing Giacomo Raspadori against Spezia – an opponent who has proven to be a thorn in the side of Napoli over the last two seasons, particularly at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The match appeared to be heading for a draw, but Raspadori scored his first for gli Azzurri in the 89th minute to secure all three points.
Injuries/Suspensions
For Rangers, Nnamdi Ofoborh remains sidelined indefinitely after revealing in January that he may have a heard condition.
Napoli will be without three players for this match. Diego Demme continues to suffer from a foot injury he suffered in training. Victor Osimhen is expected to be our for three weeks with a second degree thigh strain suffered in Napoli’s Champions League fixture against Liverpool. Hirving Lozano was left out of the squad after missing training on Sunday and Monday with the flu.
Probable Formations
Manager’s Comments
Giovanni van Bronckhorst:
“Osimhen is a serious absence for them, but they have different strikers in terms of quality and characteristics: Simeone, for example. Lozano will also be missing, I’ve known him since the days of PSV Eindhoven, but we know the quality of Napoli beyond the two of them. They have very strong players, they are first in the league and they won on their debut in the Champions League. We are prepared for the challenge that awaits us.”
Luciano Spalletti:
“We have evaluated, through videos, only the latest important games they played, but they have all been away, so it will be quite another thing [playing at Ibrox] because this audience is able to transfer a different desire. Then we have the problem that we cannot bring our fans because they have forbidden us from bringing 1,000 supporters, but they will all be in front of the TV and we will hear them at our side.”
Previous Meetings
No previous meetings
Match Officials
Head Official: Antonio Mateu Lahoz
Assistants: Pau Cebrian Devis and Roberto del Palomar
Fourth Official: Jose Luis Munuera
VAR: Marco Fritz and Bastian Dankert
