UEFA Champions League 2013: The 'new' League of Champions

Napoli

Marek Hamsik has made a sensational start to the new season (Getty Images)

Many of us had predicted the end of good times at Napoli after Edinson Cavani left for PSG in this year’s summer transfer window. The club management reinvested that money intelligently and brought in valuable replacements for the Uruguayan international. When Rafa Benitez left his previous club Chelsea to make way for the “Special One”, Napoli’s president acted quickly and signed him up as the new manager for his team.

The Spaniard has made some smart signings in the form of Gonzalo Higuain, Raul Albiol and Jose Callejon – all from Real Madrid – and also managed a loan move for his old faithful Pepe Reina from Liverpool. Benitez brings a vast European experience with him and we hope that his second stint in Italy does not end in the same fashion as it did with Inter Milan.

Napoli are top of Serie A at the moment and much of their success can be credited to one player – Marek Hamsik.

He has been their most important player in the last few seasons and more importantly he has chosen to stay at Napoli and earned the tag of fan favourite. Apart from Hamsik, Merlen Mertens and Higuain will be a major threat while going forward. Pepe Reina is hungry to challenge for a place at next year’s World Cup and this loan move might turn out to be a good opportunity for him.

Napoli, unfortunately, are placed in this year’s ‘Group of Death’ in the Champions League alongside Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund and Olympique de Marseille.

Napoli will still retain hopes of qualifying ahead of Arsenal and Dortmund, having performed reasonably well in the last few seasons.

Opponents: Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Olympique de Marseille

Players to watch out: Marek Hamsik, Gonzalo Higuain, Merlen Mertens