Napoli vs. Chelsea was a superb watch for the neutrals

I knew that last nights Champions League game between Napoli and Chelsea would be a good one, but boy did it exceed my expectations.

Normally at this stage of the competition the games are tight and teams tend to be cautious. However last nights game wasn’t anything like that.

Basketball

Napoli eventually ran out 3-1 winners at the San Paolo but in truth the game could have been ten all. It was end to end action, a bit like a basketball game. One team attacked and then the other team attacked. As a neutral it was one of those games I’m glad I watched.

Defences

One of the keys to the excitement of the game was both teams inability to defend. Napoli’s experienced backline looked shaky all night but Chelsea didn’t take the chances that were handed to them and were punished in the end. Chelsea’s central defensive partnership of Gary Cahill and David Luiz suffered an absolute nightmare last night.

Questions were asked before the game if they could perform as a partnership at the highest level and last nights performance delivered a resounding answer, NO! Cahill has no experience of Champions League football and Luiz had limited experience in his time with Benfica.

They never looked like they could handle Napoli’s livewire attackers Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani. Luiz definitely has the talent but can be rash at times. He also overplays in the wrong areas and he was punished for it, having a big hand in Napoli’s second goal.

Both sides lack of defensive strength made the game better for the neutrals but I’m sure Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas didn’t enjoy his sides defensive display. Arguably his side performed well for the first half-hour but then let the home team back into the game.

Once Napoli had a foothold in the game they grew in confidence and their attacking players started to look more and more dangerous on the counter-attack.

Dangerous

Both sides attacks looked dangerous and not just because both defences looked weak either. Napoli has two of the most exciting attacking players in the Champions League, in the aforementioned Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani.

The South American pair lived up to their reputation by having a hand in all three of the goals. Cavani assisted Lavezzi for both of his goals and also got on the score sheet himself. Lavezzi always looked a danger to the Chelsea defence.

A host of top European clubs are believed to be on the trail of the pair and it really doesn’t surprise me. They are players that could probably play for any of Europe’s top teams, they are that good.

Chelsea’s best players were also attacking players. Goal scorer Juan Mata and Daniel Sturridge looked a threat to a weak Napoli backline and Chelsea could have been heading home with more than one goal if they had been more clinical in front of goal. However Lavezzi and Cavani were the difference between the two teams.

Over

Chelsea’s Juan Mata stated after the game that the tie is not over yet. That is true but Napoli have a team that tend to be very good away from because of their counter-attacking style of play. And if Chelsea defend like they did last night the Azzurri are likely to score at Stamford Bridge.

It will be difficult for the Blues to rescue the tie at home after the first leg tie. I don’t think the whole team were awful. However Napoli punished their individual mistakes and it looks like it really will cost them.

Can Chelsea rescue this tie at Stamford Bridge?