Europa League 2014 - Swansea v Napoli

The Champions League last 16 has been and gone, but it’s fair to say that there are few teams more unlucky not to be in the premier competition than Napoli and they can go a small way to making amends by beating Swansea in their Europa League first leg today.

Rafa Bentiez’s side came within a single goal of making it to the last 16 in the toughest group of the competition but two goal defeats to Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund eventually saw them needing a three goal defeat in the circumstances of the final game against Arsenal which they weren’t able to get, leaving the competition with 12 points.

Napoli’s away form has been their Achilles heel in Europe over the last two legs but the likes of Dortmund and Arsenal are on a different level to the task they face in Swansea tonight and the quality of Benitez’s side should be able to see them through. The absences of missing Arsenal target  - Gonzalo Higuain has led their forward line with aplomb with 12 goals in Serie A and brings a wealth of Champions League to the table – is a big miss for them, but his able, fluid support line has caused opposing defences a wealth of trouble all season regardless of who’s been upfront all season.

 Lorenzo Insigne is pushing for an Italy place at this summer’s World Cup with his fantastic performances upfront and out wide and with Dries Meterens, he has more than enough to give Jordi Amat and Kyle Bartley plenty to be preoccupied with. Jose Callejon has been the standout of Bentiez’s new influx of singings apart from Higauin, with 9 league goals contributing to a Serie A tally of nearly 50, a stat which only Juventus can better. Marek Hamsik brings quality to the middle of the park for service reasons and even on the bench there looks to be plenty of potential with Duvan Zapata and Camillo Zuniga left on the bench for their 2-0 win against Saussolo at the weekend.

Napoli may have lost 5-0 in two games at leaders Juventus and Roma but have beaten 4^th to ninth on the their travels and look to hold a serious class edge on a Swansea side that is more preoccupied with their Premiership postion following a run that has seen them lose Michael Laudrup with just 4 wins in their last 16 matches. Garry Monk’s tenure has started in good style with a win in the Welsh derby over Cardiff and a point at Stoke but this is a different matter entirely and Napoli’s class and European experience can see them to a first leg win.

Advice

5 pts Napoli (7/5 Totesport)