Observers from Italy reckon Napoli are in for a real fight when they travel to face Rangers during the week - especially without top striker Victor Osimhen.
Luciano Spalletti's team have started the season in fine form and have been setting the pace in Serie A. They currently lead the title race on goal difference with defending champions Milan and firing Atalanta joining them on 14 points. They have a massive pair of games coming up, with their clash with Rangers during the week coming before a huge clash with Milan at the weekend that may have huge implications on where the title ends up - even at this early stage.
The Italians' fine form makes what was already a difficult Champions League group for Rangers look all the more perilous. Napoli dismantled Liverpool on the same day Rangers were swatted by Ajax and it means the group is wide open heading into this week's games.
Gio van Bronckhorst 's team will be looking for an upset against the Serie A frontrunners and while they are not favoured to take anything, the Italian media reckon it will be far from easy for the men from Naples. Il Meridiano drew attention to their run to the Europa League final last season and reckon the game will be "tough" for Napoli - who are without last season's top scorer Osimhen and relying on new strikers Giacomo Raspadori and Giovanni Simeone to bang in the goals at Ibrox.
They say: "Rangers are a tough team and Napoli will have to find the right measures to beat them, without Osimhen but with Simeone and Raspadori who have already found their first Azzurro goal in a short time."
The new duo have just two goals between them this season but Raspadori scored the decisive goal against Spezia at the weekend while Simeone emerged from the bench to net against Liverpool. The real worry though might be Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who has four in seven already this season.
There might be some rotation though as Spalletti's team look ahead to a potentially defining clash with Milan at the weekend. Il Meridiano went on: "After this match (against Rangers), Napoli will fly to Milan for the big Big Match against Milan, Campione d'Italia. All ready then to live another week of great emotions, with the awareness and serenity that these latest victories have brought to the whole Neapolitan environment."
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