Napoli vs Manchester City: Preview & Possible Outcomes

Napoli host Manchester City at the Stadio San Paolo in a match which will be crucial in deciding who joins Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

In what has come to be defined as the ‘Group of Death’, both Napoli and Manchester City are left to fight it out for their Champions League lives in Naples as Europe’s elite cup competition begins to get super serious.

With group leaders Bayern Munich having already booked their place in the last 16, it is left to both City and Napoli to slug it out for a place in the last 16 with 2 matches left to play.

Currently Manchester City lie in second place in the group on 7 points, two ahead of third place Napoli whose 3-2 defeat to Bayern Munich on Matchday 4 could come back to haunt them.

So it is almost make-or-break time and here are three possible outcomes to Tuesday’s clash with all their subsequent consequences detailed as well.

Napoli vs Manchester City – What If Napoli Win?

If Napoli manage to topple City in their own lair come Tuesday night, they will move ahead of the Premier League leaders by one point meaning that qualification will be out of City’s hands.

More crucially, roused by the win, Napoli will travel to the group’s whipping boys Villarreal on Matchday 6 where Walter Mazzarri’s men are expected to get the win they need to book a place in the last 16.

This will leave City having to beat Bayern Munich at Eastlands whilst at the same time praying that the old Villarreal – the Villarreal of 2006 and 2009 can hold Napoli to a draw, or better still beat the Italians in Spain.

Napoli vs Manchester City – What Will a Draw Do?

A draw will suit Manchester City without doubt. Not only will it leave Roberto Mancini’s men still two points ahead of their hosts, but it will mean that City’s destiny will be firmly in their own hands.

Bayern Munich will beat Villarreal at the Allianz Arena and so the likely hood that Jupp Heynckes will rotate his side for Matchday six’s match at Eastlands is high.

A weakened Bayern side vs a Man City team who MUST win to ensure progress into the last 16 in their maiden Champions League outing will only mean one thing: a City win…right?

Napoli vs Manchester City – What If Manchester City Win?

If Manchester City pull off their very own ‘Italian job’ and win in Naples, then they will move up to 10 points in the group whereas Napoli will stay third with four points, thus mathematically sealing City’s place in the last 16.

That in itself will be a noteworthy achievement given that only last month qualification looked beyond the FA Cup holders as they were drawing 1-1 with Villarreal with injury-time looming before Sergio Aguero bundled home the winner.

On Matchday 1 the pair played out a thrilling 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium and in retrospect Kolorov’s free-kick to draw City level turned out to be more crucial than hitherto envisaged.

Let In The Stands know what you think below.

Related posts:

1. Manchester United vs Manchester City Preview & Prediction
2. Manchester City vs Villarreal Group A Clash Could Prove Decisive
3. Manchester City v Manchester United: 2011 Community Shield Preview
4. Man City Move Into Qualification Spot After 3-0 Win At Villarreal
5. Mancini Targeting Top Spot In Group A as Man City Beat Villarreal 2-1