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How Juventus, Napoli, Roma, and Inter will perform in their Champions League groups

By John Vaccaro

A board displays the result of the draw for UEFA Champions League football tournament at The Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on August 30, 2018. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP) (Photo credit should read VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images)
A board displays the result of the draw for UEFA Champions League football tournament at The Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on August 30, 2018. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP) (Photo credit should read VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Dries Mertens of SSC Napoli during the Serie A TIM match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio San Paolo Naples Italy on 25 August 2018. (Photo Franco Romano/Nurphoto)
Dries Mertens of SSC Napoli during the Serie A TIM match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio San Paolo Naples Italy on 25 August 2018. (Photo Franco Romano/Nurphoto) /

Napoli- Group C

Napoli has been nothing short of incredible this season. They fell behind Lazio 1-0 and 2-0 to AC Milan, but came back to win both matches. Their offensive performances were nothing short of spectacular, notching 5 goals in 2 matches against teams that will both be playing in the Europa League. They will need every bit of scoring they can muster in the Champions League group they drew.

There is going to be a lot of scoring in Group C. With Napoli, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, and Red Star Belgrade, Group C has Italy’s 3rd highest scoring team, England’s 2nd highest scoring team, and the highest scoring squads from France and Serbia. Belgrade shouldn’t pose much of a threat in this group, but the other 3 teams should make Group C one of the most exciting we’ve ever seen.

Both Liverpool and PSG have looked great so far, but PSG hasn’t faced real competition yet this year. PSG could have a tough time rounding into Champions League form against the abysmal competition they face early in their Ligue 1 season. The competition in Ligue 1 isn’t great to begin with and PSG has yet to face a side that finished in the top 10 last season. They also have a manager who has had mixed results in Europe and managed a poor defensive side at Dortmund.

On the other hand, Napoli has already taken down 2 Europa league sides and has a manger with 3 Champions League titles with 2 different teams. If PSG slips up against this dangerous squad Napoli will make them pay for it. I believe that PSG’s defense will struggle more with Napoli’s pace and creativity than the Napoli defense will with PSG’s attack. That defense hasn’t been been great yet this year, but that likely has a lot to do with the opponents they started the season against. I expect Kalidou Koulibaly to make his presence felt against PSG and help them get an important home win.

Liverpool already look to be in good form and have two tough matchups coming up. Their offense is formidable, their defense is improving, and they added an elite keeper this summer. They will be a tough out for everybody in this group. I think Napoli could manage a split against them, but at Anfield they will simply overcommit too many times and get beat by Liverpool’s deadly counterattack. Their constant pressuring will make the difference for them at Stadio San Paolo, but it will be their undoing on the road. They’ll get the split with Liverpool and it will get them through to the round of 16.

Prediction: 12 points, 2nd place

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