Today at 2:45 p.m. ET from Stadio San Paolo in Italy, SSC Napoli will host Olympique de Marseilles in UEFA Champions League Group F play that can be live streamed by clicking this link.
Napoli is 2-0-1 in Champions League play heading into this clash, but still finds themselves third in the table in one of the most difficult groups in Europe. Marseilles is winless in the group, making this a must-win in the eyes of Napoli boss Rafa Benitez.
"This is a really difficult group in which you risk not progressing even with 12 points," Benitez told a press conference. "The only thing that matters is that we win. After that we can start making calculations regarding goal differential and the rest."
Napoli's goal differential is zero, having scored four goals and surrendered the same causing them to fall behind the top two teams in the group, Arsenal FC and Borussia Dortmund. "Our aim is to progress to the next round of the competition although a win would assure us of a place in the Europa League," Benitez said.
It is often said few teams are more dangerous than a winless one, as their effort increases to avoid humiliation. Benitez is wary of this factor as his team prepares to face them.
"They have good players," he said. "They are lacking a bit of confidence but they are a strong side. They will come here determined to prove their quality. Everyone expects us to win but we have to go out and earn it."
Between Champions League and Ligue 1, Marseilles has dropped five straight matches. "We are going through a delicate time," Marseille defender Souleymane Diaware said. "The point taken at Rennes did us good from a mental standpoint and it has given us some calmness to focus on our next game.
"I'm not worried because I believe it will not be long before we start showing our true colors."
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