Napoli vs Chelsea, 2011-12 UEFA Champions League, Round of 16

· 1st Leg

Napoli

38': Ezequiel Lavezzi
45'+2': Edinson Cavani
65': Ezequiel Lavezzi

FT
3 - 1
1st Leg

Chelsea

27': Juan Mata

About

Napoli are hosting Chelsea at San Paolo, , Italy, starting on . The match is a part of the UEFA Champions League.

Match Timeline

0':
Chelsea are without both Ashley Cole and John Terry.
0': Join @dalejohnsonESPN for live commentary of Napoli v Chelsea tonight.
0': Amazing Chelsea team news coming in from Naples. While John Terry is injured, Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas stunningly leaves out Ashley Cole along with Michael Essien, Frank Lampard and Fernando Torres at Napoli. Jose Bosingwa plays left-back. What are we to make of this?
0': Villas-Boas says that Ashley Cole is not quite fit enough to play, yet he is still named on the bench. Playing a suspect right-back, in Bosingwa, at left-back is a huge risk.
0': Gary Cahill comes in to partner David Luiz in the centre of defence. John Terry will be out for six weeks after an operation scheduled for tomorrow.
0': Napoli recall fit-again goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis. This makeshift Chelsea defence will have to deal with the triple threat of Edinson Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik.
0': Chelsea have just released the following statement on John Terry's fitness: "John has tried hard to be ready for tonight's game but it was clear after training last night that it was not going to be possible. He will undergo an exploratory arthroscopy in the next day or so, after which the club's medical team will be better placed to advise on a prognosis."
0': Napoli fans have let off gold ticker-tape. It's like a huge game of Crystal Maze in the Crystal Dome.
1': It's a wet night at the Stadio San Paolo, and Napoli get us underway.
2': Strong start from Napoli. Lavezzi almost gets space for a shot but his control lets him down.
3': Jose Bosingwa did not look comfortable trying to cross the ball with his left there, and only finds the gloves of the goalkeeper.
4': If Andre Villas-Boas pulls off a positive result here he'll be a smug man tonight against the Chelsea egos.
5': Great ball over the top from Paolo Cannavaro which Lavezzi almost runs on to - Cech had to be out smartly to push the ball to safety.
6': Offside flag is up against Drogba, who collides with Campagnaro when challenging for the ball. Both need a bit of attention and Campagnaro will need a cut seeing to.
7': Campagnaro is coming on with a hilarious hair net on. Petr Cech looks far more stylish.
8': Napoli love the ball over the top against this Chelsea defence in the early stages. Cavani just caught offside when trying to break the trap.
9': Cech saves Chelsea!
10': Inler picks out Cavani with a find ball, the Uruguyan completely unmarked and seemingly certain to score, but Cech saved with his feet. Good save.
11': Jose Bosingwa is down and injured. Ashley Cole is going to come on after just 11 minutes.
12': Bosingwa hobbles off now, and the "unfit" Cole comes on.
13': Chelsea almost split open again.
14': Ramires is robbed in midfield, Lavezzi feeds in Cavani with a fine through ball and the Uruguyan is relieved the see the offside flag go up after a horror first touch.
15': Malouda tries to feed in Cole down the left, it's a woefully over-hit pass and runs out for a goal-kick. Chelsea have offered nothing so far.
16': Napoli playing the ball around with ease, and then Lavezzi is chopped down by Mata.
17': Lavezzi takes the free-kick, he fails to find a team-mate and David Luiz hacks clear.
18': All of a sudden Napoli get themselves in a right tizz as Chelsea break. De Sanctis and Campagnaro make a hash defensively, it comes into the area for Sturridge it's too difficult for him to control.
19': Cech saves Chelsea once more!
20': Ashley Cole loses Christian Maggio, Gary Cahill can't close him down and the Napoli player is in on goal - it looks like the deadlock will be broken but again Cech makes a fine save to deny him.
21': Napoli look like creating a chance with every attack. Chelsea are quaking at the back.
22': Ivanovic has to nod behind for a corner with Hamsik lurking.
23': Hamsik takes the corner and Cech has to come out with real purpose to punch to safety.
24': Remember you can follow me on Twitter @dalejohnsonESPN
25': Another poor pass from Drogba, playing the ball out wide to a non-existent winger. Chelsea still to muster a shot.
26': Maggio is running rings round Chelsea on the right wing. His delivery leads to another corner as Ivanovic heads behind.
27': Hamsik plays in the corner, Cavani meets it at the near post but he heads well wide.
27': GOAL GOAL FOR CHELSEA
28': Amazing scenes! Sturridge plays a hopeful ball into the area, Cannavaro makes a horrible, shanked attempted clearance and it leaves Mata in the clear to slot home.
29': That was completely against the run of play, and an error of epic proportions from Napoli captain Cannavaro.
30': The important thing for Chelsea now is that they take confidence from that goal. A crucial away goal which puts them in control of this tie.
31': Mata is off getting some treatment off the pitch for an injury. Hopefully he will be okay.
31': And he's back on the pitch.
32': That away goal is so important for Chelsea, because even if Napoli turn this around it gives AVB's men a vital foothold regardless.
33': Napoli definitely a little shell-shocked by that out of the blue opener, they need to regroup themselves.
34': Malouda fouls Maggio, he bought that one. Chance to get it into the box.
35': The free-kick from Lavezzi wasn't the greatest and Chelsea can break.
36': Sturridge breaks and has Mata unmarked on the left - but the England man runs with his head down and goes down a cul-de-sac, but at least wins the corner.
37': So close to a second!
38': The corner comes in from the right, and David Luiz gets there in front of De Sanctis but somehow heads over the bar. That was a great chance.
38': GOAL Lavezzi scores his first ever Champions League goal.
39': Cavani plays a short ball across the box, Raul Meireles fails to track Lavezzi who shifts it across and bends a shot into the opposite corner past Cech.
40': Cavani is booked for over celebrating the goal.
40': Ramires wastes a great chance!
41': Ramires found acres of space, cut inside into the box but blazed miles over from around the penalty spot. That should be 1-2.
42': Raul Meireles is booked for a rash challenge, and that card rules him out of the second leg.
43':
The special Juan celebrates his goal.
44': Both these defences are now all over the shop. It seems like there could be a goal at either end in every attack.
44': Ivanovic is fouled by Gargano, free-kick in defence.
45': Ramires loses the ball with poor control, it enables Gargano to break before Ramires pulls him back for the foul.
45': Three minutes to be added on.
45': The free-kick is worked to Inler, but he blazes over from 25 yards.
45': We've just seen Bosingwa hobbling off to the tunnel with his hamstring heavily strapped.
45': GOAL Cavani gives Napoli the lead in the 47th minute.
45': The cross comes in from the right, Ivanovic was fast asleep at the back post and in ghosted Cavani to force the ball into the back of the net.
45': Gokhan Inler with the assist on that one.
45': Chelsea break with a great run by Ivanovic, but he is crowded out.
45': And that's half-time.
0': Napoli probably deserve to be a goal up, but they look far from comfortable with a one-goal lead.
0': Both teams have zero confidence at the back, and there are many more goals in this game if that does not change.
0': It's a vital away goal for Chelsea which keeps a hand in the tie, but they can still leave Naples with more.
0': You can follow me on Twitter: @dalejohnsonESPN
0':
Ezequiel Lavezzi fires home an equaliser for Napoli
46': And we're off again in the second half. No changes it seems.
47': Surely the second half cannot be played as open as the first?
48': Ashley Cole almost makes a hash of defending up against Maggio, but the Napoli winger drags back his defender.
49': Hamsik tries to feed in Zuniga, the pass is under-hit and Chelsea close him out.
50': Mata's shot is deflected behind for the corner.
51': The corner comes in from the right, David Luiz is left unmarked but a Napoli defender hacks off the line.
51': Now Napoli break, Cavani is played in on the left and he opts to shot rather than pass and it's easy for Cech.
52': Back up the other end and Malouda tries his luck from outside the area. De Sanctis gathers at the second attempt.
53': Credit to Gary Neville on TV for his line: "I hope everyone at home is enjoying this basketball match."
54': Mata opts for the shot with the option to play in Sturridge. It was a pea-roller from Mata to De Sanctis.
55': Massive escape for Chelsea!
56': Ivanovic has gone away on holiday up the other end of the pitch leaving Lavezzi clean through. He must score! And drags it wide of the post.
57': Gary Cahill goes into the book on his Champions League debut for a late challenge on Lavezzi.
58': Snap shot from Mata, again straight at De Sanctis.
59': Purely on what we are seeing tonight, you have to ask how Manchester City lost here.
60': Chelsea pack the box and now it's Malouda with the chance to try a shot on a tight angle, he fails to connnect properly.
61': Malouda finds Drogba, he just can't get the ball down quickly enough and a desperate Aronica challenge saves his team.
62': The corner comes in and Cahill gets to it first, his header going inches wide of the post.
63': This is like the ESPNsoccernet boys playing five-a-side on a Monday night. With less quality, of course.
64': Napoli finally get out and up the other end, a Lavezzi shot is deflected and they win the corner.
65': Napoli play one of those frustrating short corners, it comes to Gagarno but his dipping shot is easy for Cech.
65': GOAL Lavezzi for Napoli!
66': Chelsea throw all their good work away. David Luiz makes a complete hash of dealing with a ball over the top, Cavani closes him down, he feeds in Lavezzi who makes no mistake with Cech left stranded.
67': Chelsea have work to do now, but can they do that without letting in a fourth?
68': Ramires has been absolutely dire tonight. A player we expect more of losing possession time and time again.
69': Remember you can follow me on Twitter: @dalejohnsonESPN
70': It's amazing that the only change so far is the substitution of the injured Bosingwa after 12 minutes.
70': Speak of the devil.
70': Frank Lampard and Michael Essien are on for Florent Malouda and Raul Meireles.
71': So no action tonight for Fernando Torres. But Chelsea do need a goal after all.
72': Cavani brings out the theatrics to win a free-kick from Essien.
73':
Ezequiel Lavezzi celebrates the first of his goals against Chelsea
74': The hero Lavezzi is replaced with Blerim Dzemaili.
75': Blerim Dzemaili was at Bolton earlier in his career but sold by Gary Megson who never played him in the first team. Dzemaili is too skillful for that.
76': This time David Luiz gets across to stop a long ball trying to find Cavani.
77': Free-kick to Napoli. Dzemaili felled by Lampard.
78': Inler swings in the free-kick but Cannavaro is penalised for jumping on Ramires.
79': Drogba wins the corner. Chelsea with another chance to create a goal.
80': Mata takes the corner, it's a poor one but he gets a second chance to deliver. There's an almighty scramble in the box and Napoli manage to hack it away.
81': Great goal-line clearance by Ashley Cole!
82': Ivanovic completely lost Hamsik, and cut the ball back, played the short square ball to Maggio who had to score - but Maggio picked out the only man blocking his path and Ashley Cole made a superb clearance when a fourth goal looked certain.
83': And that's Hamsik's last action of the game as Goran Pandev comes on.
84': Chelsea really could do to find a second goal, that would make them favourites in this tie. Otherwise they face an uphill task to score at least two and not concede.
85': Chelsea pump a free-kick into the box and eventually Drogba is flagged offside - but Napoli look like an under-10s team every time the ball goes into the box.
86': Gargano breaks and squares it for Pandev but he blazes over. A look down at the pitch from Pandev tries to shift the blame for that effort.
87': Doesn't look like Chelsea are going to get what could be a vital second goal.
88': Offside against Drogba again.
89': Sturridge flips to the ground looking for a free-kick over on the left. The ref waves at him to get up.
90': Drogba misses a chance!
90': Ashley Cole crossed in from the left, Drogba had his back to goal and can only fire well wide. He should have left the ball for Sturridge who was free behind him and facing goal.
92': We've played two of three added minutes.
93': Lampard with a power drive but De Sanctis holds well again.
93': Ivanovic tugs back Gargano. Last chance for Napoli for four.
94': Inler fired in the driven shot-cross, but it flicked off a Napoli player and went behind.
94': And that's the last action of the game, full-time in Naples.
0': Collectively it was perhaps the worst display of defending you will see at this stage of the Champions League. The side best able to capitalise on those errors won this game.
0': Napoli have control of this tie but Chelsea are certainly not out of it with that crucial away goal. But at the same time you cannot see them keeping a clean sheet.
0': Andre Villas-Boas will have questions to answer over his team selection, but it's joy for Serie A as they claim another big home win over Premier League opposition.
0': The second leg is back at Stamford Bridge in three weeks' time. Remember you can follow me on Twitter: @dalejohnsonESPN

Statistics

CHE		NAP
18	Fouls	7
2	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
4	Offsides	5
4	Corner Kicks	4
4	Saves	4
58.3	Possession	41.7
14	SHOTS	15
5	ON GOAL	7
0.4	On Target %	0.5
0	Penalty Goals	0
0	Penalty Kicks Taken	0
356	Accurate Passes	235
443	Passes	317
0.8	Pass Completion %	0.7
4	Accurate Crosses	5
28	Crosses	17
0.1	Cross %	0.3
46	Long Balls	54
25	Accurate Long Balls	27
0.5	Long Balls %	0.5
2	Blocked Shots	1
16	Effective Tackles	14
17	Tackles	18
0.9	Tackle %	0.8
0	Interceptions	0
16	Effective Clearances	16
26	Clearances	32

Game Information

Competition: UEFA Champions League

Venue: San Paolo
Location: , Italy
Attendance: 60,000

Line-Ups

Napoli (3-4-3)

No.	Name
1	Morgan De Sanctis (GK)
28	Paolo Cannavaro
6	Salvatore Aronica
14	Hugo Campagnaro
23	Walter Gargano
88	Gökhan Inler
18	Juan Zúñiga
11	Christian Maggio
7	Edinson Cavani
22	Ezequiel Lavezzi
17	Marek Hamsik

Napoli Substitutes:

Federico Fernández, Andrea Dossena, Miguel Britos, Gianluca Grava, Antonio Rosati, Goran Pandev, Blerim Džemaili.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1)

No.	Name
1	Petr Cech (GK)
4	David Luiz
24	Gary Cahill
17	José Bosingwa
2	Branislav Ivanovic
16	Raul Meireles
7	Ramires
11	Didier Drogba
10	Juan Mata
15	Florent Malouda
23	Daniel Sturridge

Chelsea Substitutes:

Ross Turnbull, Salomon Kalou, Fernando Torres, Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard.

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