When blue moon hits your eye, like a big pizza pie, that’s amore
When the stars make you drool just like a pasta fazool, That’s Man City!
When you dance down the street with a cloud at your feet, Champions League! When you walk in a dream but you know you’re not Dreaming Mancini! Scuzza me, but you see, back in old Napoli That’s Man City!
Roberto Mancini and Manchester City will have to travel to Naples for Tuesday in what is now a massive game for both teams in their hopes of progression to the knockout stage of the Champions League. City go into the game two points above their opposition however the game is being held in the Stadio San Paolo, which is going to provide an intimidating atmosphere for the visitors.
Manchester City have the better form, in their domestic league, going into this game. Currently undefeated through the first twelve games with the run extended at the weekend at the expense of the Premierships other undefeated team, Newcastle, by a score of 3-1. Napoli on the other hand hosted Lazio at the weekend and walked away with a goalless draw. Before the International break they had lost away to Catania and have only won four games in their opening ten.
However in Europe, when playing at home, Napoli are a formidable team. Since they returned to European Competition in 2008 Napoli are unbeaten in ten matches, which include the win against Villarreal and a draw against Bayern in this competition.
If City are to win on Tuesday they would be the first foreign team to do so since 1994 when Eintracht Frankfurt defeated them.
City though, have been doing nothing but breaking records so far this season. Scoring in the League at record place and the first top flight team to win 11 of their first 12 games for some time and that’s just domestically. In Europe, against Villarreal, City first got their very first Champions League win and then in the return fixture got their first away win in the competition.
Napoli will be confident and honestly desperate not to lose this tie as they have already held City once this season at the Etihad Stadium by a score of 1-1. In fact this result combined with the fixtures with Juventus in the Europa League last season means that City’s last three games against Italian opposition have all resulted in 1-1 draws. More of the same on Tuesday
Although it wouldn’t be the worst result for City it would certainly keep the nerves on edge for another two weeks and awaiting the arrival of Bayen Munich to Manchester while keeping one eye on Napoli as they travel to Villarreal, this Groups whipping boys.
A win would see City’s qualifying settled and possibly turn the final fixture into the battle for top spot and at the same time see Napoli secure Europa League football next year. A loss would not bare thinking about for City as it would make qualification extremely unlikely.
Under that scenario we would have to beat current leaders Bayern while again keeping an eye on Spain and the other game.
0 comments