Skip to content

Europa League preview: Napoli fan plots their downfall

Mateo Kovacic competes with Kalidou Koulibaly
Image: Napoli: Face Young Boys in the Europa League

Normally Young Boys coach Uli Forte would be cheering for Napoli but on Thursday he will attempt to mastermind a victory over the Italian side.

Napoli visit Bern in the third game of their Europa League campaign, with Rafael Benitez's Group I table-toppers looking to maintain their 100 per cent record.

Young Boys had a good start to the group, beating Slovan Bratislava 5-0, but lost to Sparta Prague last time out.

Forte told uefa.com: "A lot of our players and staff - me included - are Italian or have Italian roots from the south of the country. It's a very special game for us.

"I have always been a big Napoli fan. I still remember when I was 10 years old when Diego Maradona had his presentation at San Paolo in front of 70,000 fans.

"I want to beat them, though, and we will do all we can to achieve that.''

Midfielder Raphael Nuzzolo, meanwhile, is such a big Napoli fan that he buys a new shirt every year when he travels to Italy.

Napoli go into the clash on the back of a 2-2 draw in Serie A with Inter Milan, who are also yet to drop points in Europe ahead of a meeting with St Etienne.

The French team sit second in Group F after drawing their opening two matches, and coach Walter Mazzarri told a press conference: ''We have studied them.

''They have made a strong start to the season in France. We have a lot of respect for them.

''They are a prestigious club and for us it will be a stimulating game to see if we can continue where we left off against Napoli."

One team with ground to make up is PSV Eindhoven after their defeat by Dinamo Moscow last time out in Group E.

Phillip Cocu's side take on the only team below them, Panathinaikos, and the head coach insists Europe is a major priority this season.

He told a press conference: "The league is not more important than our European programme. The playing rhythm that we have now is particularly important for the development of our young boys.

"I do not see Panathinaikos as the weak brother in this group. They have great players, but are currently searching. They have in many games had the initiative, but that did not lead to the desired results.''

Estoril host Dinamo Moscow in the other match in the group, while Dynamo Kiev and Fiorentina also go into this round of matches protecting 100 per cent records.

Kiev travel to second-placed Aalborg in Group J while Fiorentina visit PAOK in Group K.

Around Sky