Dynamo v Napoli: line-ups, where to watch, form guide
Monday, September 12, 2016
Article summary
Gonzalo Higuaín may have gone, but a new-look Napoli side carries a real threat as they visit Dynamo Kyiv – they are even taking a leaf out of Valeriy Lobanovskiy's book.
Article top media content
Article body
- Dynamo in group stage for 16th time; Napoli making just third appearance
- Napoli have won only three of their last ten away games
- Dynamo have won just twice in 20 encounters with Italian clubs
- Don't forget to pick your Fantasy Football team before the deadline
- Elsewhere in Group B: Benfica v Beşiktaş
Possible line-ups
Dynamo Kyiv: Shovkovskiy; Morozyuk, Khacheridi, Vida, Makarenko; Rybalka; Yarmolenko, Sydorchuk, Buyalskiy, González; Júnior Moraes.
Out: Danilo Silva (hamstring)
Doubtful: None
Napoli: Reina; Ghoulam, Koulibaly, Albiol, Hysaj; Hamšík, Jorginho, Allan; Mertens, Milik, Callejón.
Out: Tonelli (knee), Chiricheș (knee), Strinić (unspecified), Giaccherini (unspecified)
Where to watch
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.
Serhiy Rebrov, Dynamo Kyiv coach
Napoli sold one great player this summer [Gonzalo Higuaín] but they bought six to replace him so I think they have become even stronger. We are ready for them, though.
We need to find balance between attack and defence. We can't just defend as we did in the second half on Friday [in a 1-1 draw against Shakhtar]. We had a hard but honest conversation after that. The players know I was not satisfied and we will try to avoid repeating those mistakes.
I hope the full stadium will help the players by lifting them rather than putting pressure on them. The Champions League is not just about responsibility and pressure, but also joy and the desire to demonstrate your best football. And I know that my team can play really good football.
Maurizio Sarri, Napoli coach
I'm not nervous. We know our opponents very well and we know how to play against them. Dynamo are a good attacking side, very strong collectively. I think this is where they stand out in our group, and they are surely one of the favourites to reach the next stage.
Dynamo are very well prepared physically so we expect a very hard, exhausting game. They are able to dictate a game but we are not going to be reactive. We also want to play our football. I'm happy to be in the Champions League, it's a great achievement for me. But I'm not going to stop here.
Weekend results
Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1 Dynamo (Dentinho 75; Gusev 24pen)
Dynamo Kyiv remain three points behind leaders Shakhtar after the Pitmen grabbed a late equaliser to cancel out Oleh Gusev's first-half penalty in Kharkiv.
Palermo 0-3 Napoli (Hamšík 47, Callejón 51 65)
José María Callejón scored twice for the second game running. Marek Hamšík got his 82nd Serie A goal, one more than Diego Maradona, though the Slovakian is still 16 short of the Argentinian's club-record tally of 115 in all competitions.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)*
Dynamo: DLWWWW
Napoli: WWD
*This season only
Reporter's view: Bogdan Buga (@UEFAcomBogdanB)
Napoli's decision not to have a session at the NSK Olimpiyskyi on Monday, and instead train on the morning of the match, is designed to optimise their physical state for the game itself – a method commonly used by legendary Dynamo coach Valeriy Lobanovskiy. These are two extremely physical and athletic teams, though Napoli should have superior individual quality.
Did you know?
Before the 2015/16 campaign Dynamo had won just four of their previous 31 group stage fixtures; how many did they win en route to the round of 16 last season? Find out this and more in our extensive match background.