Italians aim to erase first UCL round failures against Iberian Peninsula sides

The atmosphere at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona has been the worst since the beginning of the season, and the new UEFA Champions League challenge is knocking on the Neapolitans' door.

In the last three games, Napoli suffered two defeats: to Man City at Etihad in the UCL opening clash and to AC Milan at San Siro in the Serie A derby three days ago.

Apart from the loss, the clash against the Rossoneri was marked by two moments: the fact that Antonio Conte's men failed to avoid defeat despite playing against the ten-man rival for more than half an hour and Kevin De Bruyne's reaction after being subbed out, which the Italian gaffer commented on after the match.

Sparks - Conte about KDB: "He has a problem with the wrong person"

Hence, if they want to keep high hopes of progressing to the next UCL round, the Neapolitans have to beat Sporting Lisbon tonight (22.00). The Portuguese side expectedly crushed the minnows Kairat in their opening duel (4-1) and can relax ahead of the match against the rivals, who are desperate to win.

Conte won't be able to count on four injured players (Alessandro Buongiorno, Nikita Contini, Amir Rrahmani, and Romelu Lukaku) as well as the captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo, who was sent off against the Cityzens.

The Italian and Portuguese sides haven't played each other since 1989, when Napoli eliminated Sporting on penalties from the UEFA Cup Round of 32.

Another Serie A representative will play tonight, but on the road, as Juventus will face Villarreal (22.00). The Spanish side has returned to the elite European competition after a four-year absence and lost its maiden game to Tottenham in London 1-0.

On the other hand, Juve played a wild game against Dortmund in Turin, salvaging a 4-4 draw thanks to two added-time goals.

And even though Igor Tudor's crew is considered a slight favourite, the Old Lady has recorded three consecutive draws, while the Yellow Submarine is on a three-win run.

Three years ago, the La Liga side eliminated the Bianconeri from the UCL Round of 16 thanks to a 3-0 victory in Turin following a 1-1 draw in Spain, and that definitely urges Juve to be cautious tonight at Estadio de la Ceramica.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 2

Tuesday

Atalanta - Club Brugge 2-1 (0-1)

/Samardzic 73 pen, Pasalic 87 - Tzolis 38/

Kairat - Real Madrid 0-5 (0-1)

/Mbappe 25 pen, 52, 74, Camavinga 83, Diaz 90+3/

Atletico Madrid - Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 (3-0)

/Raspadori 4, Le Normand 33, Griezmann 45+1, 68, Alvarez 82 pen - Burkardt 57/

Bodo/Glimt - Tottenham 2-2 (0-0)

/Hauge 53, 66 - Van de Ven 69, Richarlison 89/

Chelsea - Benfica 1-0 (1-0)

/Rios 18 og/

Galatasaray - Liverpool 1-0 (1-0)

/Osimhen 16 pen/

Inter - Slavia Prague 3-0 (2-0)

/Lautaro 30, 65, Dumfries 34/

Olympique Marseille - Ajax 4-0 (3-0)

/Paixao 6, 13, Greenwood 26, Aubameyang 53/

Pafos - Bayern 1-5 (1-4)

/Orsic 45 - Kane 15, 35, Guerreiro 21, Jackson 31, Olise 69/

Wednesday

19.45: (2.70) Qarabag (3.35) Copenhagen (2.60)

19.45: (3.50) St.Gilloise (3.45) Newcastle (2.10)

22.00: (1.20) Arsenal (6.75) Olympiakos (14.0)

22.00: (1.95) Barcelona (3.70) PSG (3.70)

22.00: (1.83) Dortmund (3.50) Ath.Bilbao (4.50)

22.00: (1.87) Leverkusen (3.60) PSV (4.20)

22.00: (6.75) Monaco (4.40) Man.City (1.48)

22.00: (1.90) Napoli (3.50) Sporting (4.10)

22.00: (2.35) Villareal (3.35) Juventus (3.05)

***odds are subject to change***