Our prediction for this Europa League match:
Napoli will be looking to bounce back from a shocking loss to Spartak Moscow when they welcome Legia to their Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Thursday evening. The Partenopei made a flying start to their Serie A campaign, and despite the defeat to Spartak, Luciano Spalletti’s troops are seen as favourites to beat Legia in front of home fans. Despite failing to convert a penalty in the last league match, Lorenzo Insigne will be the man to watch in the home team, while Hirving Lozano returns to the starting XI.
All Malcuit, Manolas, and Ounas are likely to miss the game with injuries. The Polish side, on the other hand, experienced all sorts of problems at the back in a 3-1 loss to Lechia at the weekend, and seeing that Napoli are desperate to make amends for the loss to Spartak Moscow, home win should be considered.
Highlighted Player (Lorenzo Insigne):
Born in Frattamaggiore, Naples on June 4, 1991, Lorenzo Insigne is an Italian footballer who plays for his hometown club Napoli in the Serie A. Insigne is a product of Olimpia Sant’Arpino football school, but he joined the Partenopei at the age of 15.
The diminutive attacker scored his first ever goal in the Italian top flight on September 16, 2012 in a 3-1 win over Parma. Insigne, who played for the likes of Cavese, Foggia and Pescara on loan before returning to Naples, made his debut with the Italian national team on September 11, 2012 in the World Cup qualifier against Malta.
The Napoli forward scored his first ever goal for the Azzurri in a friendly against Argentina on August 14, 2013. His main position is left winger, but he is used as a second striker as well. Lorenzo Insigne has a contract with Napoli until June 30, 2022.
Highlighted Team (Legia):
Legia is a football club based in Warsaw and it is one of the most successful sides in Polish history. The Militarians – as they are commonly referred to in Poland – have won 11 Ekstraklasa Championship title, while they also hold the record-18 Polish Cup trophies and four Polish SuperCup matches.
Founded as the main official football club of the Polish Army, Legia Warsaw are playing theirhome matches at the Polish Army Stadium which can accommodate 31,000 people. Legia have endured mixed fortunes at the international scene with the Polish giants regularly participating in Europa League, with four group inclusions over the last six years. The Militarians headed into the 2016-17 season feeling buoyed and motivated having succeeded in ending the 20-year Champions League wait, becoming the first Polish team to take part in Europe’s elite competition over the last two decades.
The 3-1 aggregate playoff victory over Irish Dundalk earned them a place in the final showpiece with Legia being thrown into a heavy mix with the likes of Sporting CP, Borussia Dortmund and European champions Real Madrid.