Napoli face Feyenoord at the Stadio San Paolo on Tuesday, Sept. 26. Here’s all the info you need to watch.
Napoli may be playing some of the best soccer in all of Europe, but that doesn’t mean much if you can’t post wins in the Champions League. Undefeated in Serie A and tied atop the league standings with 18 points after six games with Juventus, Napoli lost their Champions League opener 2-1 away at Shakhtar Donetsk. The loss was stunning and something the Partenopei will want to avenge when it hosts Feyenoord at the San Paolo Stadium.
The team coached by Maurizio Sarri is led by Belgian international Dries Mertens. The 30-year-old forward has scored six goals this season and is very dangerous in the attacking third alongside wingers Lorenzo Insignie and Jose Callejon. Mertens also has a Dutch connection. He played in the Netherlands with AGOVV Appeldorn (2007–09), Utrecht (2009–11) and PSV Eindoven (2011–13), winning the Dutch Cup with PSV in 2012. In league and cup play, Mertens played Feyenoord nine times, scoring twice. In addition, striker Arkadiusz Milik played with Ajax from 2014 to 2016, tallying 32 goals in 52 league games.
If you count the final five games of last season, Napoli have now won their last 11 Serie A games, including a 3-2 victory at Spal this past Saturday. The win set a new club record. Feyenoord, on the other hand, are in fourth place with 12 points from six games.
Feyenoord are back in Europe’s top club competition after winning the Eredivisie title last season for the first time in 18 years. The club has quietly been dominating Dutch soccer in recent years and could be the most-underrated team on the continent. Coached by former Netherlands midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Feyenoord have won a domestic cup and league title in a span of three seasons with a collection of broadly unheralded players. As expected, however, Feyenoord were routed by Manchester City 4-0 two weeks ago. Like Napoli, they will be in search for points in order to stay alive in Group F.
Feyenoord’s two center midfielders, Karim El Ahmadi and Tonny Vilhena, are quick and tough, but the team will likely not be able to keep up with Napoli’s pace and pressure. Sarri’s 3-5-2 puts emphasis on passing and a midfield that pushes up with play both down the middle and the wings. The defense is as solid as they come (it has given up just five goals in league play this season) and captain Marek Hamsik is a leader on and off the field. Napoli have the experience to turn things around in the Champions League, while Feyenoord are likely to struggle.
Next: All live stream info in one place
The Champions League match between Napoli and Feyenoord will be available online only. Live streaming is available on Fubo.TV and Fox Sports Go, which you can access via your cable or satellite subscription, either online or through the Fox Sports Go app.
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 26
Start time: 2:45 p.m. ET
Location: Naples, Italy
Stadium: San Paolo Stadium
TV Info: Online only
Live Stream: Fox Sports Go, Fubo.TV
Overall, Napoli have never defeated a Dutch side in European competition, posting a 0-1-1 all-time record. Feyenoord and Napoli have never faced each other in an official match, but the Dutch do hold a 4-4-4 overall record against Italian clubs.
Can Napoli put on a dazzling display before their home fans? Will Feyenoord get points away from home?