Chelsea is sitting 8th in the UEFA Champions League table, heading into its final group-stage game. They face Napoli in Italy on Wednesday, January 28, and have a challenging task on hand to qualify for the Round of 16.
Chelsea Has Its Destiny in Its Own Hands
Moisés Caicedo scored a late winner for Chelsea in the previous match against Pafos at home last week. The midfielder’s header from a corner could prove crucial for the Premier League side as they face Napoli in the final game.
The Blues are currently occupying the final automatic qualifying spot in the table, which means they will enter the Round of 16. Teams finishing from 9 to 24 will have to play two more matches to seal their place in the next round.
Chelsea has a goal difference of six from their opening seven matches, and that puts them in a comfortable position. They can seal the place with a win, as the teams below them will need to outdo the result by 3+ goals to climb above.
Moreover, PSG and Newcastle, the teams sitting right above the Blues, face off in the final game, meaning at least one of them will be dropping points. The worry for Liam Rosenior’s side will be the eight teams below them who are waiting for the Premier League side to slip up.
A loss or a draw against Napoli would be catastrophic for the Stamford Bridge side, as they could be jumped by Barcelona, Sporting CP, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, and Juventus, if they win their match.
Rosenior’s side cannot afford a loss or a draw against former Blues manager Antonio Conte, as it would add two more matches to the already tight schedule this season, which started with little pre-season following their FIFA Club World Cup win.
Napoli is currently outside the Top 24, meaning they desperately need a result to have any chance of playing in the knockout stage. The Chelsea manager is aware of the circumstances and said:
“In football, in the Champions League, in Serie A, in the Premier League, you can never expect anything. The competition level is so high. Napoli are a great team. They proved that last year with a fantastic title. When they have outstanding individual players, they have a world-class coach.”
“They’re still in the position where they can get through. We’re aware of that. I think it will make for an exciting game because Napoli have to win. Also, for us to have a realistic chance of the top eight, we also need to win,” Conte added.
Chelsea will also be facing their former player, Romelu Lukaku, who had two spells at the club but failed to reach the heights at Stamford Bridge.
