Champions League 2016-17 | Group B

Group got complicated, bad luck, wasted a bunch of chances and Besiktas scored offside.

Napoli 6
Basiktas 5
Benfica 4
Kiev 1

Napoli unlucky that they lost their Higuain replacement. I said it on another thread, Napoli will probably qualify second only because they built up a points lead when they were whole.

Those early misses by Mertens in front of a nearly open goal (a very good winger, not a CF goal scorer) made it clear to me they were going to lose. Napoli had 6 shots on goal to Beksitas's 1 in the first half yet they were losing 0-1.

Gabbi should have played from the start, or at least Callejon instead of Mertens as flase 9.

Gabbiadini isn't a suitable CF, he is out of position there.

"Fare il centravanti nel Napoli è un lavoro troppo grande per Gabbiadini, è un ottimo calciatore, ma da qui ad essere protagonista di una squadra che punta alla Champions o allo scudetto ce ne passa. Qui non siamo davanti ad un fuoriclasse, ma ad un ottimo giocatore fuori ruolo. Non possiamo dire un giorno prima che Sarri è un grande allenatore e il giorno dopo che non sa far giocare la propria squadra. Il punto è uno: c'è un vuoto in avanti, anche se Gabbiadini esplodesse, perchè manca un attaccante in panchina. Domenica ho visto una Roma perfetta tatticamente e un Napoli che ci è cascato in pieno. Spalletti ha cucito la squadra addosso agli azzurri".

Gabbiadini is out of position at CF but Mertens isn't

Both are out of position at CF. That's my point. Napoli has played for years with a single reference point at CF. Without a player that can perform in that role it will take at least a half of a season to change the automatismi that the team has been indoctrinated in for the past several seasons. Milik filled that role, it was a miracle. With him injured, Napoli will drop to mid table in Serie A and face early elimination in the CL.

What's wrong with Napoli? They have been poor in last few games.

Milik got injured and pressure hit them, its mostly mental. They keep creating a bunch of chances but are not finishing and then they make a defensive blunder as pressure mounts. They'll find their rhythm soon.

Same story this game as before, minute 70, lots of chances and the game tipped in their favor but havent been able to put it away.

Penalty for a handball from Maksimovic in a rare Besiktas break through!

Quaresma scores the pk. Nothing works for Napoli lately, really a series of unfortunate events.

Serie Ass

that jinx though ffs

Firenze wrote:that jinx though ffs

That timing ffs. Great Hamsik shot.

Napoli has to get through qualification and needs to buy an eligible top center forward in January in case Milik isn't ready when the CL starts up again. They may just win the group even without a real center forward type striker.

What a goal

https://my.mixtape.moe/igmqkt.mp4

Don't call me James wrote:What a goal

https://my.mixtape.moe/igmqkt.mp4

Ronaldinho

Benfica letting a 3-0 slip away

Really want the winner of this shit group in the Round of 16.

https://my.mixtape.moe/ayhirx.mp4


Rabona cross from Quaresma for the 3rd Goal

So Napoli couldn't beat Dynamo at home.

Last matchday fixtures

Benfica-Napoli
Dynamo Kiev - Besiktas

Points atm

Napoli 8
Benfica 8
Besiktas 7
Dynamo Kiev 2

All to play for. Benfica and Napoli can't play for a draw in case Besiktas wins. Napoli have to beat Benfica to finish 1st and vice versa.

final day should be insane for all 3 teams

Napoli is through as long as they don't lose to Benfica. I think that's the only thing they will be worried about. Not whether they finish first

UEFA sure is screwed up.  They have the standings wrong on their site for CL Group B:

http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2017/standings/

And Sky has the standings right for Group B.

http://www.skysports.com/champions-league-table

That's embarrassing.

It might be better finishing second this year.

.

Napoli: Reina; Hysaj, Koulibaly, Albiol, Ghoulam; Allan, Diawara, Hamsik; Callejon, Gabbiadini, Insigne

Benfica: Ederson; Nelson Semedo, Luisao, Lindelof, Andre Almeida; Salvio, Fejsa, Pizzi, Cervi; Goncalo Guedes, Raul Jimenez

Napoli wins the group
Benfica qualifies
Besiktas gets EL
Kiev is last.