H2H: Napoli vs. Salzburg – Prediction (Champions League

Preview and Teams Comparison.

Napoli and FC Red Bull Salzburg have met three times previously in European competition, all during 2019 in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League (two Napoli wins, one Salzburg win).

Leading UEFA Champions League (UCL) Group E by a solitary point, Napoli enter this match unbeaten in eight of their last ten UCL games (W4, D4, L2). Furthermore, Napoli are unbeaten in their last five UCL home fixtures (W4, D1), three of which were goalless at the break, with eight of Napoli’s ten goals across those five games coming during the second half. Arkadiusz Milik has scored three of Napoli’s last four goals, with two coming beyond the hour mark. Goals shouldn’t be in short supply in this encounter, considering Napoli have netted exactly twice in five of their previous six competitive home games. The hosts have managed three clean sheets during this sequence, whilst just one of the four goals they conceded during this period arrived before half-time.

At least one side scored exactly three goals in each of the three previous H2Hs. Six of Napoli’s last ten UCL group stage fixtures have been level at the break, with four goalless. The winner on the day scored first in each of Salzburg’s three UCL fixtures.

However, seven of Salzburg’s 11 UCL group stage goals have come in the first half, and the visitors’ average of 3.67 goals scored per match (similar to their domestic league average of 4.08) is the UCL’s second-best ahead of the round. Indeed this season, Salzburg have scored 3+ goals in ten of their 13 Austrian top-flight games, and two of their UCL matches. Salzburg’s Erling Braut Håland is the first player to score six goals in his first three UCL games, and is the competition’s top scorer. Salzburg have lost only one of their last eight UCL away games (W4, D3, L1 – including qualifiers) but notably, have won just two of their previous eight European away games against Italian sides (W2, D1, L5).