A decisive battle in Naples is set to take place on Wednesday evening with Napoli vs Union Berlin on display in the Champions League. The hosts know that a win will drastically enhance their chances of sealing a spot in the last 16, whilst Die Eisernen are desperate for all three points to keep their knockout hopes alive, even if it’s just by a thread.
Partenopei head coach Rudi Garcia knows his team must be prepared for a tough match against Union Berlin, despite the Germans’ abysmal run of form of late. It is essential that Napoli improve their home form this season. That starts with an important Champions League clash here in front of their own fans.
As for the visitors, their poor run of form means the home side are expected to find all three points. They haven’t won a game since August and will crash out of Europe’s top tier competition if they fail to find the victory here. Check out our Napoli vs Union Berlin preview below.
Napoli Preview
Things look pretty positive for Napoli so far in Europe this term. They currently sit in second place behind Real Madrid in Group C and have won two and lost one. They have beaten both Braga and Union Berlin away from home but lost 3-2 at the Diego Maradona to Los Blancos. Napoli know that they must improve their home form this term and they have won just one of their last five successive matches at the Maradona.
It has been a pretty tumultuous time for Garcia during his life as Napoli boss. Pressure has been on from the off to emulate last season’s Scudetto-winning success and, ultimately, the Azzurri haven’t look as convincing as they did last term. Coupled with the fact that star man Victor Osimhen has been involved in a TikTok scandal with the club’s official page, it has been far from simple in Naples in 2023.
However, they are unbeaten across their last four across all competitions and currently occupy a spot in the top-four in Serie A. Napoli defeated Salernitana 2-0 away from home on Saturday, thanks to goals from Giacomo Raspadori and Eljif Elmas. They put in a comfortable display too, creating plenty of chances throughout. However, Salernitana have been poor this season and currently sit bottom of the Italian top-flight.
One To Watch: Giacomo Raspadori
Largely filling in for the injured Osimhen of late, Raspadori has proven to be a strong asset for Napoli. The 23-year-old has scored in each of his last three straight matches, including the recent equalizer against Milan. He is expected to lead the line once again here and will certainly pose a threat.
Union Berlin Preview
Urs Fischer’s phenomenal run with Union Berlin over the past five years had to come to an end at some point. That time is now. Die Eisernen are on a run of 12 successive defeats across all competitions and haven’t picked up a single point since August. Perhaps the dizzy heights of Champions League football and the attention from across the world has gotten to them.
Certainly, it isn’t a lack of effort or faith in the current setup that is leaving them down in 16th-place in the Bundesliga. The Union Berlin faithful continue to support Fischer and the players, whilst the team put in a resilient display when they met Napoli during Round 3. However, a piece of individual brilliance by Kvicha Kvaratskhelia would leave them still without their first-ever Champions League points.
And yet, still, it is at both ends of the pitch where it, quite frankly, looks appaling. Union Berlin have failed to score in any of their last five competitive matches and have conceded ten in the process. Simply, the capital club have been punching above their weight over the past few seasons. Now, they are being brought back down to reality.
One To Watch: Sheraldo Becker
It was hard to find a key player to look out for for Union Berlin. However, Sheraldo Becker will be searching to end his six-game goal drought for the club here. The 28-year-old has scored Die Eisernen’s only two goals in the Champions League and will desperately be looking to curtail Union’s woes in front of goal in this one.
Head-to-Head
It was Raspadori who struck the only goal of the match in the reverse fixture last month as Napoli ran out 1-0 winners in Berlin. A hard-fought battle played out in Germany and Union Berlin were unfortunate losers as their poor run of form continued. That was the only previous meeting between the two sides in their history.
Napoli vs Union Berlin Potential Lineups & Team News
Napoli (4-3-3): Alex Meret; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Natan, Amir Rrahmani, Mario Rui; Andre-Frank Zambo-Anguissa, Stanislav Lobotka, Piotr Zielinski; Matteo Politano, Giacomo Raspadori, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia
Garcia has confirmed that talisman Victor Osimhen will be able to return this week which is huge boost for the Partenopei. However, this match will come too soon for him, meaning Raspadori will continue to lead the line. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa has been able to return to the side over the last two games, whilst Juan Jesus made the bench at the weekend.
Union Berlin (3-5-2): Frederik Ronnow; Leonardo Bonucci, Robin Knoche, Diogo Leite; Christopher Trimmel, Alex Kral, Aissa Laidouni, Rani Khedira, Robin Gosens; Kevin Behrens, Sheraldo Becker
The expectation is that Fischer will continue to utilize a three-man defense but they do have the ability to play four at the back. Leonardo Bonucci will likely continue in defense since Danilho Doekhi has been dealing with a knock. Andras Schafer and Alexander Schwolow will remain sidelined, though, due to injury. However, Josip Juranovic could be in line for a return here.
Napoli vs Union Berlin Prediction
In spite of Napoli’s poor record on home soil this term, they should be putting Union Berlin to the sword. The German outfit have not been good enough of late and huge question marks will be raised, even more so for Garcia, if they do not pick up the win here.
Napoli 3-1 Union Berlin