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‘Napoli have every chance of beating Chelsea’ - Goal.com experts give their verdict after Champions League last-16 draw
Goal.com's UK & International experts combine to discuss their opinions on Friday's draw, Arsenal & Chelsea’s European fate, and who they think will succeed come May
By Miles Chambers
It was an all-Italian affair in Friday's Champions League draw for the two remaining Premier League clubs, with Chelsea and Arsenal landing ties against Napoli and Milan respectively in the last-16 stage of the competition
Goal.com's international experts were on hand after the draw, to answer your questions in the aftermath of events in Nyon.
Below are the highlights of the Q&A – but you can click here to read the full article.
Could Napoli reach the quarter-finals at the expense of Chelsea? - Okoh Ezekiel
Kris Voakes: "I actually marked Chelsea out as potentially Napoli's most desirable opponents before the draw. With their electric counterattacking ability and pacey forwards such as Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani, the Azzurri will fancy their chances of bringing down another suspect English back line after disposing of Manchester City. Inter showed two years ago at this stage that the Blues are vulnerable to trickery and an injection of speed at the top end, and nothing has changed for Chelsea in that regard. Also, with Didier Drogba Chelsea's main hope up front, he will get an equally uncompromising attitude out of Paolo Cannavaro, Hugo Campagnaro and Salvatore Aronica. Napoli have every chance.”
Do Arsenal have what it takes to overcome Milan? - Faraday Babajide
KV: “Well of course Arsenal won last time these two teams met after eventually breaking down a stubborn Milan side at San Siro. But in the four years that have passed much has changed at both clubs. Robin van Persie now arguably stands alone as Arsenal's chief 'star' while the Italian side have come out of a dip to win Serie A with a fresher look about them. Much will obviously depend on how a Milan forward line including Zlatan Ibrahimovic will do up against the Gunners' questionable defence, while the greatest individual battle will undoubtedly be Van Persie against Thiago Silva. It's a close one to call, with much depending on Arsenal's form come February. If they can sustain their current run, they could go through. But if they fall back into their early-season form, they have no chance.”
And who do our experts believe will win the Champions League this season?
Rob Stewart: “I reckon Jose Mourinho could finally work out how to get the better of Pep Guardiola and get the very best out of Cristiano Ronaldo, so I would put my money on Real Madrid.”
Robin Bairner: “Barcelona still have to be the team to beat, as last weekend's Clasico showed us.”
KV: “Real Madrid are my slight favourites over Barcelona, but then they were for last week's Clasico too! Either way, I still can't see anyone currently troubling those two.”
Ben Hayward: “Barca favourites, with Madrid not far behind them.”
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