UEFA Champions League: Napoli vs. Borussia Dortmund - Statistical Infographic

Borussia Dortmund’s Turkish midfielder Nuri Sahin (L) and coach Jurgen Klopp give a press conference on September 17, 2013 at the San Paolo stadium in Naples on the eve of a Champions League Group F football match against SSC Napoli. (Getty Images)

Emblematic of the quality on show in Group F (this year’s group of death) and in the Champions League as a whole, match day one sees an extremely exciting fixture in the form of Borussia Dortmund travelling to Italy to take on Napoli. English giants Arsenal travel to France to take on Marseille in the other encounter.

Both teams are full of quality across the pitch, and are headed by two of the brightest minds in football: Jurgen Klopp and Rafael Benitez. The tactical battle between these two minds should ensure that we have a cracking game on the cards.

Napoli are a very difficult team to beat at home, due in no small part to the amazing atmosphere created by their fans. The team itself looks very strong, and is full of quality. Despite the fact that Edinson Cavani has left for Paris, goals haven’t been a problem at all. Napoli are the current top scorers in Serie A with nine goals in their three games. Marek Hamsik has been the standout performer with four goals so far, and he has been well supported by the likes of Jose Callejon and Gonzalo Higuain. Napoli have a good spine, with an organised defence, strong and creative midfield, and good strikers up front.

Dortmund were the most pleasantly surprising team in the Champions League last season, making it all the way to the finals. They cannot claim the title of the plucky underdogs this time though, and expectations are high at the Signal Iduna Park. Dortmund have won their first five games of the Bundesliga, and head into this game on the back of a 6-2 thrashing of Hamburg. The front men look in good form, and will always be dangerous with their brand of attacking through ‘Organised Chaos’.

The variety is also stunning, with a dribbler like Marco Reus, a playmaker in the form of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, a willing runner in Jakub “Kuba” Blaszczykowski, and the pacy Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. In defence, Dortmund bear a settled look about them. Roman Weidenfeller, Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic have been together for a few seasons now, and their partnership looks solid as ever.

Tactically, it will probably Dortmund looking to hit Napoli on the counter with their ample pace. Of course, Napoli will look to win their opening game as well, one which is at home. But a more tempered approach is probably going to be seen, with Benitez being a little cautious of the threat Dortmund pose on the break.