Rafael Benitez's Napoli will put their Champions League credentials on the line when they welcome last season's beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund to the San Paolo tonight.
Napoli are the only team in Serie A with a perfect record so far thanks to a formidable front line that has seen Marek Hamsik, Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Callejon combine to hit nine goals, for only two conceded, in three wins from as many games.
Blerim Dzemaili. Pic/Getty Images
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Dortmund, beaten 2-1 in May’s Wembley final by Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich, are certain to provide an altogether different challenge from the likes of Bologna, Chievo and Atalanta, though.
However Benitez, brought on board following Walter Mazzarri’s departure for Inter Milan, has been wisely rotating his squad ahead of this week’s challenge — and the mood in the Azzurri camp is high.
“We are not afraid of Borussia Dortmund,” Swiss international Blerim Dzemaili told Sky Sport Italia after Sunday’s 2-0 win over Atalanta.
“They’re a top side but at the San Paolo we can beat anyone.”
Aware of Dortmund’s impressive 6-2 win over Hamburg at the weekend, Dzemaili added: “They’re obviously playing well, but we’ll be going out for a win.”
Napoli’s chances of claiming a first victory from a group which also contains Arsenal and Marseille were given a potential boost when Dortmund skipper Sebastian Kehl was ruled out for six weeks on Monday with torn ankle ligaments.
Napoli are making their second group stage appearance in three years.u00a0But along with Arsenal, the Germans will be fancied to claim one of the group’s two qualifying spots following last season’s impressive drive to the final.
In the close season Dortmund, already boasting the talents of Robert Lewandowski, reinforced their attack with Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Armenian playmaker Henrikh Mkitaryan.
Coach Jurgen Klopp says his side is ready, but knows it will be a tougher challenge in Naples.u00a0“We are ready for Naples. However this is a different competition and Napoli will be a tough opponent to break down, but we are also no pushovers,” said Klopp.u00a0
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