Key events<\/p>\n
Show key events only<\/p>\n
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n
Colum Fordham gets in touch from Naples: \u201cWriting from Naples where the atmosphere has just gone Vesuvian. The youngster Vergara was probably the shining light in Napoli\u2019s weekend defeat against Juventus. But Madon, oh my god, he\u2019s just pulled off a stunner with a turn worthy of Diego.<\/p>\n
\u201dI know Conte\u2019s not got a good track record in this competition but he knows how to galvanise a team which is struck by injury (De Bruyne, Neres to name but a few). Forza Napoli<\/a> (Come on Napoli)!\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Half-time: Napoli 2-1 Chelsea<\/p>\n The Chelsea<\/a> task was to ride out the storm but it feels like they accentuated it by scoring. Napoli\u2019s response has been exemplary, a lovely turn and finish by Vergara, and then Hojlund showing what he can do with a smartly taken goal. It\u2019s all in the balance.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45+1 min: Napoli probably fancy another before half-time. Chelsea\u2019s three-man defence and midfield are being picked off in what Jurgen Klopp used to call the \u201chalf spaces\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45 min: Three minutes added on. Caicedo smashes into Elmas, and for his complaints, one of Conte\u2019s coaches is booked.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 44 min: Hojlund gets the thumbs up from Romelu Lukaku. Caicedo meanwhile appears to be questioning the formation. Not good signs. AS IT STANDS, Chelsea<\/a> are 12th, Napoli are 19th.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Goal! Napoli 2-1 Chelsea (Hojlund, 43)<\/p>\n Oh my, Chelsea<\/a> caught napping, and in two passes they are behind. Olivera goes down the left, his pass inside is gobbled up first time by the Dane.<\/p>\n Napoli’s Rasmus Hojlund scores their second goal. Photograph: Ciro De Luca\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.49 EST<\/p>\n 41 min: James steps across to coolly rob Hojlund. Chelsea<\/a>, though, are struggling to keep the ball as they would like.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 39 min: AS IT STANDS: A Bodo\/Glimt goal against Atletico takes Chelsea<\/a> back into the top eight. Meanwhile, they must ride out a storm, with Vergara, full of beans, taking on another shot.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 38 min: Napoli putting it about a bit, flying into tackles. The home fans demand it, as does Antonio Conte. Chelsea<\/a> seek to quell the danger with some precise passing; they do so to the sound of whistling and jeering.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 36 min: Napoli<\/a> pressing like demons now, Reece James finding himself hunted down by Elmas.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 34 min: Vergara is normally a bit-part player, at 23 he\u2019s yet to make much of breakthrough. AS IT STANDS, Chelsea<\/a> down to ninth, and Napoli are 26th. The home team need a win or a shift of results.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Goal! Napoli 1-1 Chelsea (Vergara, 33)<\/p>\n The youngster bobs and weaves after Napoli<\/a> force the ball out. Vergara takes on Fofana and smashes home. Great goal. That\u2019s only his fifth senior goal.<\/p>\n Antonio Vergara scores for Napoli. Photograph: Francesco Pecoraro\/Getty ImagesVergara celebrates. Photograph: Ciro De Luca\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.40 EST<\/p>\n 32 min: Rosenior deep in consultation with Reece James as there\u2019s a break in play. He\u2019s very hands on.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 31 min: Di Lorenzo asked to defend, real box to box stuff, and asked to close down an Estevao spurt. Chelsea<\/a> are giving Napoli little respite with their press.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 30 min: This is a decent game, openings at both ends. Di Lorenzo has been all over the place, and Chelsea<\/a> are struggling to pick him up. Napoli win a corner, and waste it again. Nicolas Jover\u2019s doctrines yet to take off in Serie A.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.31 EST<\/p>\n 29 min: Neto goes close, skipping beyond Olivera, and it takes Meret coming out to narrow the angle to prevent a second Chelsea<\/a> goal.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 27 min: Lobotka drops deep and send away Olivera, though he cannot find Hojlund, who knocks the ball behind. Napoli<\/a> corner, a poor one, and Sanchez claims it, almost unchallenged.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 25 min: This is a test for Chelsea\u2019s nerve, under new management, a test of their coach. Rosenior is issuing plenty of instructions, asking his team to get tighter.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 23 min: Napoli<\/a> pile on the pressure, Di Lorenzo to the fore, with Cucurella having to make a heroic block when the ball falls to the Napoli captain.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 22 min: Chelsea<\/a> resume their taking their sting from the opposition. It\u2019s all on Napoli now. Spinazzola sends away Di Lorenzo, and his cross comes in, to be kicked away by Sanchez\u2019s boot.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 21 min: Chelsea<\/a> climb to sixth AS IT STANDS, with Napoli in 28th.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 20 min: It was Jesus who was the handler of the ball. Unsurprising update: Conte is not at all happy with that decision. Fernandez buried that penalty with venom.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Goal! Napoli 0-1 Chelsea (Fernandez, 19)<\/p>\n Enzo Fernandez waits and waits, and slots with venom. The home fans are not happy.<\/p>\n Fernandez celebrates scoring. Photograph: Carl Recine\/UEFA\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.25 EST<\/p>\n Penalty to Chelsea!<\/p>\n 16 min: James certainly fancies it. A consortium of players discuss what comes next. It\u2019s taken shot, James smashes it, and the ball bounces off Buongiorno. That\u2019s soft but looks a penalty\u2026VAR checking. The ref called it straight away, Clement Turpin is tonight\u2019s ref.<\/p>\n Napoli’s Juan Jesus concedes a penalty via handball. Photograph: Ciro De Luca\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.24 EST<\/p>\n 16 min: Estevao gets the ball in the loose, and passes inside to Joao Pedro, who is fouled. Chelsea<\/a> free-kick, one from the type of distance that maybe Reece James might fancy.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 14 min: Chelsea<\/a>, again, try to pass the ball slowly, take out the sting. It\u2019s working for them. Napoli look a bit leggy, as they did when losing to Juve at the weekend.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 13 min: It\u2019s maybe more frantic than is comfortable for either manager. Hojlund is doing well in holding up the ball, but this time Elmas can\u2019t get to the ball.<\/p>\n Rasmus Hojlund of Napoli controls the ball whilst under pressure from Wesley Fofana of Chelsea. Photograph: Tullio M Puglia\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.17 EST<\/p>\n 11 min: First corner for Chelsea<\/a>, taken short, and headed by Joao Pedro, but that won\u2019t beat Napoli\u2019s keeper.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 10 min: Enzo Fernandez picks up a loose ball, and surges forward. The steam goes out of the attack, and then, despite Estevao\u2019s attacking intentions, they cut back.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 8 min: McTominay looks dazed, to say the very least. That ended up being very nasty. Does he know where he is? Tell him he\u2019s Scott McTominay.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 7 min: Now McTominay leads the press, hounding down Caicedo, and Sanchez clears hurriedly and smashes the Napoli<\/a> man full in the chops. That\u2019s gotta hurt.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 6 min: McTominay sets off on a run, and Enzo Fernandez hacks him down. A reducer on the danger man, Lancaster\u2019s finest.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 5 min: Hojlund spins his defender, and tries to release the recovered Di Lorenzo. Chelsea<\/a> have a high line, though Hojlund was in his own half. This time they clear and attack at speed.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4 min: Chelsea<\/a> pressing high, Estevao full of beans as he chases down his flank. Napoli having to play their way out.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 3 min: Di Lorenzo goes off but looks groggy rather than hurt badly. Napoli<\/a> are running low on players at the moment so losing him would be a bitter blow.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Away we go in Naples<\/p>\n 1 min: And yes, both teams are lined up with three at the back. Could three at the back be one of the reasons for Conte\u2019s lack of European success? The man himself is pacing as Di Lorenzo, his captain, is down after a collision.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The Napoli ultras sang the last line of the Champions League anthem like a war cry. This competition has not always been kind to their team.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Naples is loud as the teams take to the field, and by the looks of pre-match it will be two teams playing three at the back. The Champions League<\/a> anthem rings out.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Hugh Collins gets in touch: \u201cAre there any theories as why Conte teams are so abysmal in Europe? He has had plenty of opportunities to get it right.\u201d<\/p>\n One theory is the intensity he throws at domestic campaigns, though other theories are available.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Liam Rosenior spoke to TNT ahead of kick-off: \u201c\u201cIt\u2019s been a positive start. Firstly the players and their engagement and attitude and willingness to learn, I think they have enjoyed it as well. Tonight is another big test for us and if we manage to come through it , it gives us a great chance of being in the top eight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey are very good on transition. They are very organised in their press. From what I\u2019ve seen they will press us really, really high, whether that is from a 3-4-3 or a 5-4-1. They have outstanding players. They build well from the back. It is going to be a difficult game and we are prepared for it.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n For Chelsea<\/a>, Reece James looks to be playing centre-back, while Napoli have only named five subs. Antonio Conte has selected Leonardo Spinazzola on the the right flank, with Math\u00edas Olivera on the left of the traditional Conte 3-5-2. It looks as though Chelsea have matched them man for man.<\/p>\n A reminder that Napoli<\/a>, despite their travails in this competition, have not lost at home for a year.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n This game brings back memories of a Champions League<\/a> classic. Recall John Terry directing the team from the sidelines after subbing himself off? To think he never became Chelsea manager, as once seemed his destiny.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n So, no Cole Palmer starting for Chelsea<\/a>. Romelu Lukaku is also on the bench, for Napoli against his old club. <\/p>\n Share<\/a>The teams<\/p>\n Napoli XI: Meret; Buongiorno, Juan Jesus, McTominay, Olivera, Hojlund, Elmas, Di Lorenzo, Vergara, Spinazzola, Lobotka. Subs: Contini, Spinelli, Gutierrez, Lukaku, Beukema, De Chiara, Garofalo<\/p>\n Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, James (C), Fofana, Cucurella, Caicedo, Andrey Santos, Estevao, Fernandez, Neto, Joao Pedro. Subs: Jorgensen, Merrick, Acheampong, Badiashile, Chalobah, Hato, Palmer, Gittens, George, Garnacho, Delap, Guiu<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s where the teams stand in the mega table, ahead of the final round.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Let\u2019s not forget the permutations:<\/p>\n After edging past Pafos<\/a> last week, Chelsea hold the final top-eight place but face a difficult trip to Antonio Conte\u2019s Napoli, despite the Italian champions\u2019 injury problems. A win in Naples should put Liam Rosenior\u2019s side through to the last 16 but it may come down to goal difference. A draw or a defeat and, again, given the number of teams on 13 points, Chelsea would likely be condemned to the playoffs.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The overnight news from Naples was grim.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The big news of the day so far from Chelsea: Raheem Sterling was not on the flight.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n