Napoli's Do-or-Die Night Against Chelsea in Europe
28 January 2026
What history says about Chelsea vs Napoli
Napoli stand on the edge of elimination in the Champions League as they host Chelsea in a decisive midweek showdown, the final round of group play.
The Italian side, battered by injuries, sit 25th in the group with 8 points, while Chelsea occupy 8th on 13 and are desperate to secure direct qualification and avoid a playoff.
Napoli must beat Chelsea to clinch a playoff spot next month, but the task is tough against a Blues side that also needs a win to stay inside the top eight and lock a direct last-16 berth.
SofaScore’s numbers paint a scary picture for Napoli: they have not lost at home in their last 25 games, with their last home defeat dating back to December 2024.
What history says about Chelsea vs Napoli
The teams met twice in the 2011/12 Round of 16; the first leg at Napoli’s Diego Armando Maradona Stadium finished 3-1 for the hosts.
In the return, Chelsea sealed a 4-1 win at Stamford Bridge, a campaign that culminated in their final victory over Bayern Munich.
Punchline 1: Napoli’s home form is so terrifying, even the ball stays in the box—out of respect.
Punchline 2: Chelsea’s direct-qualification chase is like me chasing last-minute Wi‑Fi—injury-prone, but somehow still reachable.
