(Football news) Leicester City face Napoli in a crucial encounter as Group C hangs right in the balance, all three teams have the chance for qualification. The Foxes will finish first if they win or both games are drawn, they could even progress with a loss provided other results go their way, meanwhile, Napoli must take three points to ensure a place in the knockout stages. Just two points separate first to last in Group C, with Napoli trailing group leaders Leicester City by a single point ahead of their match. The Neapolitan side have picked up just four points from their last four league games following a previously unbeaten start.as their forms a bit topsy turvy at the moment.
The Europa League campaign for Leicester City has been a roller coaster ride as they moved from the bottom of the table to the top by beating Legia 3-1 at home last month, but still remain just two points clear of the fourth-placed Polish champions. For Brendan Rodgers’ side, the biggest concern going into the match is that they are now without a clean sheet in 15 Premier League away games, and a total of four goals conceded in their two away Europa trips so far this term as it offers hope to even an injury-hit Napoli side.
Napoli’s top scorer Victor Osimhen is ruled out for several months with a cheekbone fracture and fellow first-teamers Andre-Frank Anguissa, Kalidou Koulibaly, Fabian Ruiz and captain Lorenzo Insigne have since been sidelined. On the other hand, Lecister’s injury crisis is decreasing as they will only be without Youri Tielemans and James Justin for this important clash.
West Ham will look to end the group stage in style when they face Dinamo Zagreb at the London Stadium. The Hammers have already secured a safe passage to the knockout stage and will also be topping the group but David Moyes would like to enter into the round of 16 with a statement of intent. Four wins had already earned them a place in the next stage, allowing their European journey to continue, meanwhile, the squad have continued their high level of performances in the Premier League as David Moyes is keen to guide his team back into European competition next season. Both Kurt Zouma and Ben Johnson will be out of this fixture as Moyes will make plenty of changes keeping in mind the busy Christmas period they are going to have.
Real Sociedad face PSV knowing that only victory will do if they want to progress through to the Europa League knockout stages on the other hand PSV need to avoid defeat in order to progress to the round of 16 playoffs. The 1-1 draw at home to Sturm Graz was the turning point for their Europa league campaign as Sociedad followed that result with a 2-1 defeat in Monaco at the end of last month. While Sociedad have one of the best defensive records in La Liga, their efforts have been undermined because of Alexander Isak’s dry spell, netting just once since the end of October, as goal scoring is becoming a problem. As far as PSV are concerned, they will be delighted with having reached this stage of the campaign with their fate in their own hands, particularly having started the group with a 2-2 draw at home against the same opponents.
The other fixtures are:
- Sparta Prague vs Brondby
- Antwerp vs Olympiacos
- Fenerbahce vs Olympiacos
- Monaco vs Sk Sturm Graz
- Lyon vs Rangers
- Legia Warsaw vs Spartak Moscow
- Ferencvaros vs Leverkusen
- Celtic vs Real Betis
- Lazio vs Galatasaray
- Marseille vs Lokomotiv Moscow
