Riot police are coming under attack from Eintracht Frankfurt and Atalanta hooligans, who set fire to cars and will try to enter tonight’s Champions League game with Napoli despite a banning order.
It kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 20.00 GMT.
The Partenopei won the first leg 2-0 and are the favourites to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
However, the match is being overshadowed by precisely what the local authorities had feared when they tried to ban initially all Germans from attending, then after losing an appeal reducing that to just those who were born or are residents in Frankfurt.
Over 600 have still made their way to Naples, accompanied by Atalanta ultras who have a bitter rivalry with Napoli, and the situation is degenerating fast.
Reports and footage from Piazza del Gesù show Eintracht fans throwing objects including fireworks and bottles at the police, while several cars are on fire.
Circa 200 Napoli ultras have also turned up wearing motorcycle helmets and iron bars, but were so far prevented from coming into contact with the Eintracht fans.
The presence of the Atalanta ultras has made the situation far worse, as they will be exempt from the banning order and could try to sneak German supporters into the Stadio Maradona too.
Insane. Get the military in to sweep them away with tanks. They don’t deserve anything better.