Napoli coach Rafael Benitez has labelled today’s Europa League last-32 return leg against Swansea as “crucial” for his club.
The Italian side host Swansea City at the Stadio San Paolo with all to play for, having been held to a goalless draw in the first leg in Wales last week.
“We want to progress and in order to do that, we need to score more goals than they do and win,” Benitez said in yesterday’s press conference.
“This is a crucial game for us.
“We are confident because we can do good things this season.”
Benitez is aware his players will have to play better than they did in the first leg at the Liberty Stadium.
“We already saw that Swansea play great football,” he said.
“We have to play as we know but we must increase the tempo.”
Napoli are third in Serie A and are considered firm favourites to progress.
However, Benitez is not taking the Swans lightly.
“I know Swansea well,” he said.
“They did a great job against us as well as against Liverpool at the weekend. They scored three goals at Anfield but also conceded four.
“They have a team capable of progressing to the next round of the Europa League.
“We have to be ready, we need to be clinical in attack and strong in defence. Overall, we need to impose our game.”
Napoli were held to a 1-1 home draw by Genoa in a Serie A match on Monday.
Elsewhere, Jermain Defoe will miss what would have been his last match for Tottenham because he is suffering with a hamstring injury.
Defoe, 31, was expected to make his 364th and final appearance for Spurs against Dnipro in their second leg match at White Hart Lane tonight when they will try to overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit.
“He will be at the game to say his goodbyes at half-time,” said manager Tim Sherwood.
Defoe is joining Major League Soccer club Toronto FC.
Round of 32 – today’s second legs
Kick-offs: 19.00
Basel vs M. Tel-Aviv (0-0)
E. Frankfurt vs Porto (2-2)
Ludogorets vs Lazio (1-0).
Napoli vs Swansea (0-0)
R. Kazan vs Real Betis (1-1) - 18.00
Salzburg vs Ajax (3-0)
Sevilla vs Maribor (2-2)
S. Donetsk vs Vik. Plzen (1-1)
Kick-offS: 21.05
AZ Alkmaar vs S. Liberec (1-0)
Benfica vs PAOK (1-0)
Fiorentina vs Esbjerg (3-1)
Genk vs Anzhi (0-0)
Lyon vs C. Odesa (0-0)
Tottenham vs Dnipro (0-1)
Trabzonspor vs Juventus (0-2)
Valencia vs Dinamo Kiev (2-0)