Napoli v Arsenal: Champions League – live
Arsenal travel to Napoli for their opening Champions League league-phase fixture, arriving in confident form after finally winning the Premier League title and starting this season strongly. Despite last season's Champions League campaign ending in disappointment, Arsenal can point to an unbeaten league-phase record, the competition's best defence, and a competitive run against eventual finalists PSG, giving them little to fear heading into Naples.
Napoli, by contrast, have managed only two wins in their last ten Champions League matches and failed to progress beyond the league phase last season, while also losing their last three European ties against English opposition and three of four previous meetings with Arsenal. The Italian side's domestic form has also been poor, following a home defeat to Como with a blown two-goal lead against Inter. Manager Mikel Arteta, who was sent off playing in Naples during his own career, is nonetheless wary of complacency ahead of kick-off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 8pm BST (9pm local).
In short
- Arsenal face Napoli in their Champions League opener, full of confidence
- Arsenal boast an unbeaten league-phase run and top defensive record
- Napoli enter in poor form, winning just two of their last 10 European games
Explained simply
The Champions League is Europe’s main club competition. In its league phase, teams play a set of matches against different opponents; their results determine whether they advance to the knockout rounds.
Arsenal are an English club managed by Mikel Arteta, while Napoli are an Italian club based in Naples. The clubs have met several times in Europe, and their match is being played at Napoli’s Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
The fixture brings together teams with different recent records in the competition. Their results matter for their chances of progressing, while the match also tests how each side fares against a club from another major European league.
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