Napoli rotate the squad against Rijeka in the Europa League, but the night is all about remembering Diego Armando Maradona.
It kicks off at 20.00 GMT at the Stadio San Paolo, although many are already calling it the Stadio Diego Maradona, with the local Mayor announcing the change of name is underway.
Napoli rotate the squad against Rijeka in the Europa League, but the night is all about remembering Diego Armando Maradona.
It kicks off at 20.00 GMT at the Stadio San Paolo, although many are already calling it the Stadio Diego Maradona, with the local Mayor announcing the change of name is underway.
The real focus is outside the arena, where thousands have been gathering all day despite the lockdown orders to pay tribute to El Pibe de Oro, who died yesterday at the age of 60.
There will be a minute’s silence before kick-off, but also a moment where the entire city comes together to applaud as one for their hero.
Maradona’s image will also light up the inside of the stadium and remain on the screens throughout the game.
As for the match itself, Gennaro Gattuso rotates the squad with Matteo Politano, Piotr Zielinski and Eljif Elmas supporting Andrea Petagna, as Victor Osimhen is injured.
Diego Demme – who was named in honour of Maradona by his Neapolitan parents in Germany – starts alongside Tiemoue Bakayoko, who is suspended this weekend in Serie A.
Rijeka make the trip without eight players who are affected by COVID-19 and forced to self-isolate, without a single point so far in the Europa League group.
The absentees include Sandro Kulenovic and Luka Menalo, who caused problems for Napoli in the 2-1 result last time out in Croatia.
Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Maksimovic, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Bakayoko, Demme; Politano, Zielinski, Elmas; Petagna
Napoli bench: Contini, Ospina, Mario Rui, Fabian Ruiz, Lozano, Mertens, Insigne, Manolas, Lobotka
Rijeka: Nevistic; Velkoski, Galovic, Smolcic; Tomecak, Cerin, Loncar, Anastasio; Muric, Stefulj, Andrijasevic
Rijeka bench: Nwolokor, Frigan, Braut, Yateke, Raspopovic, Hodza, Putnik, Frigan
Ref: Ozkahya (TUR)