Porto vs Napoli: Team News and Champions League Preview
By Daniel Kimingi ·
Pointless Porto host Napoli on Wednesday 4 November, with De Bruyne expected to play despite an ankle sprain and Napoli hit by injuries and without an away win in seven.
Porto host Napoli at the Estádio do Dragão on Wednesday 4 November at 8pm UK time. Porto have no league-phase points; Napoli have three and a long injury list.
Porto host Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday 4 November, with kick-off at 8pm UK time (9pm CET) at the Estádio do Dragão. Porto have no points from three league-phase games, while Napoli have three and have not won away in the competition in seven attempts.
Sports Mole reports that Porto are one of three teams still without a point and need at least nine points just to reach the play-offs.
Porto vs Napoli team news
Napoli have a long absentee list. Buongiorno, Neres, Favasuli, Alisson Santos, Spinazzola and Badiashile are out, Lobotka injured his ankle last week, and Di Lorenzo and Olivera suffered muscular injuries at Juventus. Milinković-Savić missed that game with a knock, and Højlund was sidelined by flu.
Kevin De Bruyne is set for his 86th Champions League appearance despite a slight ankle sprain, according to Sports Mole, though UEFA lists him as doubtful. He has created 10 chances from open play this season, behind only Lamine Yamal's 11.
Porto are without William Gomes and Vasco Sousa, and Chris Smalling, Gabriel Mec and Dominik Prpić are not in Francesco Farioli's Champions League squad. Oskar Pietuszewski is doubtful with a thigh problem, Martim Fernandes missed the weekend with tonsillitis but could return, and Zaidu limped off with a knee issue.
Sports Mole's possible XIs are Porto: Diogo Costa; Alberto Costa, Bednarek, Kiwior, Zaidu; Fröholdt, Rosario, Veiga; Pepê, Samu, Sainz, and Napoli: Meret; Beukema, Rrahmani, Marín; Politano, Anguissa, De Bruyne, Olivera; McTominay, Vergara; Højlund. Both sides have named players in those line-ups who carry fitness doubts.
How both teams arrive
Porto lost 2-0 to Manchester City, 3-2 to Real Betis and 1-0 to PSV Eindhoven, conceding first against City and Betis. At home they are top of the Primeira Liga after 10 straight wins and have conceded only four league goals, most recently winning 4-0 against Estoril.
Napoli lost 1-0 to Arsenal and 3-1 at Villarreal before beating Bodø/Glimt 4-3, with Scott McTominay scoring twice, for the club's 100th win in UEFA competition. They lost 2-0 at Juventus on Sunday and are eighth in Serie A, 14 points behind leaders Lazio, per Sports Mole. Napoli finished 30th in last season's 36-team table, and Massimiliano Allegri has lost eight of his last 10 matches at this level.