KICK off: 18 February 22:00
Information: Napoli coach Gennaro Gattuso – already coping without star striker Dries Mertens and having seen big-money striker Victor Osimhen only just return to the squad after illness and injury – now has in-form forward Hirving Lozano out of action. Having stepped up impressively with a number of goals and assists in recent months, the Mexican flyer has now been ruled out for a month with a hamstring injury. Both Kalidou Koulibaly and Faouzi Ghoulam have been quarantining due to COVID-19, while fellow defenders Kostas Manolas and Elseid Hysaj are ruled out with injuries. A more regular face in the XI of late, German midfielder Diego Demme has a muscle problem and injured goalkeeper David Ospina is also set to miss out on the return to continental action. Therefore, Gattuso’s hand will be forced, with Alex Meret starting in goal, behind Amir Rrahmani and Nikola Maksimovic in central defence. Once again, Osimhen and Andrea Petagna vie for the centre-forward role. Meanwhile, Diego Martinez is dealing with his own injury crisis at Granada, as the club’s Europa League top scorer Yangel Herrera (with four), Domingos Quina, Luis Milla, Neyder Lozano and Maxime Gonalons are all potentially unavailable for this first-leg tie. It is expected the former Osasuna boss will select a 4-2-3-1 on Thursday – despite fielding five at the back versus Atletico Madrid – with Kenedy on the right, ex-Udinese forward Darwin Machis on the left and veterans Jorge Molina and Roberto Soldado probably competing for one place up front.
Prediction: Over 2,5 goals
Stake: 8/10
League: Europa League
Result: pending
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Prediction of the day: Granada – Napoli
