Rafa Benitez is reportedly leaning towards Miguel Britos and Lorenzo Insigne to start tonight’s Champions League clash with Athletic Bilbao.
The Vesuviani host the Basques this evening at the San Paolo in the first leg of their Champions League Play-off round tie, battling for a place in the group stages of the competition.
Indications in the week have been that two places in Benitez’s starting XI were up for contention – left-back and left-attack.
Rafa Benitez is reportedly leaning towards Miguel Britos and Lorenzo Insigne to start tonight’s Champions League clash with Athletic Bilbao.
The Vesuviani host the Basques this evening at the San Paolo in the first leg of their Champions League Play-off round tie, battling for a place in the group stages of the competition.
Indications in the week have been that two places in Benitez’s starting XI were up for contention – left-back and left-attack.
The Gazzetta dello Sport suggest that the Coach is likely to prefer Britos to take the defensive role over Faouzi Ghoulam, and Insigne to take the attacking role ahead of Dries Mertens.
Kalidou Koulibaly is in line for a first competitive start for Napoli in the centre of defence alongside Raul Albiol, whilst Christian Maggio will take right-back.
Midfield is set to be Gokhan Inler and Jorginho sitting in front of the defence, with Insigne, Marek Hamsik and Jose Callejon supporting Gonzalo Higuain in attack.
The Gazzetta suggests that Athletic Bilbao will run with a trident of Markel Susaeta, Iker Muniain and Benat Etxebarria supported Aritz Aduriz up front. Oscar De Marcos will notably start at right-back.
Probable line-ups
Napoli: Rafael; Maggio, Albiol, Koulibaly, Britos; Inler, Jorginho; Callejon, Hamsik, Insigne; Higuain
Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz; De Marcos, Gurpegi, Laporte, Balenziaga; Iturraspe, Mikel Rico; Susaeta, Benat, Muniain; Aduriz