MX23RW : Friday, January 31 09:09:11| >> :60:3519:3519:
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Napoli logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Sep 18, 2013 at 7.45pm UK
 
Dortmund logo

2-1

Higuain (29'), Insigne (66')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Zuniga (87' og.)

Preview: Napoli vs. Borussia Dortmund

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Champions League Group F meeting between Napoli and Borussia Dortmund.

The current leaders of Serie A and the Bundesliga will meet on Wednesday when Napoli and Borussia Dortmund clash in the Champions League at the Stadio San Paolo.

The home side, who are under new management this season with Rafael Benitez, invested heavily in their squad over the summer as they prepare for just their second campaign in the group stages of the Champions League.

However, Napoli have not beaten German opposition in any of their last seven fixtures, losing five times and drawing twice in the process.

Dortmund, meanwhile, finished runners-up to domestic rivals Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season. Their record against Italian opposition is not particularly strong, however, with 14 defeats from 27 matches.

As mentioned, Napoli will enter the match sitting atop the Serie A table, having won all three of their league fixtures to date and scoring nine times. Dortmund, meanwhile, have won all five of their Bundesliga fixtures thus far, with 15 points leaving them top of the division.

Benitez could recall Jose Callejon to his starting lineup, while Marek Hamsik is also expected to step back into the team at the expense of Giandomenico Mesto. Gonzalo Higuain, Pepe Reina and Raul Albiol are all due to make their Champions League debuts for the Italian club.

Meanwhile, Dortmund will have both Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang available, but Sebastian Kehl is a slight doubt with an ankle injury.

Recent form

Napoli: LWWWW

Dortmund: WWWWW

Possible starting lineups

Napoli: Reina; Cannavaro, Albiol, Armero; Hamsik, Inler, Mertens, Dzemaili, Insigne; Callejon, Higuain

Dortmund: Weidenfeller; Schmelzer, Hummels, Subotic, Bender; Sahin, Mkhitaryan, Kehl; Reus, Lewandowski, Aubameyang

Sports Mole says: 1-1


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Written by
Matt Law
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Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain in action against Bologna on August 25, 2013
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