Union Berlin vs Napoli prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-10-23 19:00.
It’s not quite Halloween yet, but things are already looking rather scary for Union Berlin after a 3-0 home defeat against Stuttgart at the weekend extended their competitive losing streak to eight games, comfortably their longest negative streak since their top-flight debut. The Iron Ones now risk becoming just the second German side after Schalke to lose their first three games in the UEFA Champions League (UCL), after their pointless return so far.
The raw form doesn’t tell the full hard luck story of Union though as they posted more than double Braga’s xG in a 3-2 defeat in their last UCL game, whilst only a last-gasp sucker punch denied them a point against Real Madrid. The versatile Robin Gosens said in the aftermath of the latest UCL game that he and the team need to find a way to “get games like that over the line,” which is exactly what they’ll attempt to do against Italian champions Napoli.
Things are ticking along relatively smoothly for Napoli, who have lost just twice across their last eight competitive outings (W4, D2, L2). A serious title defence in Serie A may not be guaranteed as they sit five points off the pace, yet this game could prove pivotal as far as group stage qualification is concerned, with an opportunity to put some daylight between themselves and Braga with victory.
Taking to the road shouldn’t faze the Partenopei, who have won each of their last three European trips to face Bundesliga sides and have lost just three of their last 11 European away games (W5, D3). There may be some trepidation though, with Napoli’s latest three wins on German soil making up their entire win tally in European away action against Bundesliga sides (W3, D3, L5).
Players to watch: Union’s Gosens has played no side more often than Napoli, with the former Atalanta and Inter man directly contributing to three goals across his 13 personal H2Hs (W6, D2, L5). Looking to make an impact for Napoli will be the talismanic Victor Osimhen, with six goal contributions across his last seven UCL appearances (G5, A1) helping Napoli to their best ever UCL finish last term in the quarter-final – one of those goals came away in Frankfurt!
Hot streak: Napoli have not played out a stalemate in any of their last nine UCL group games (W7, L2).