RB Leipzig v Napoli Betting Preview – UEFA Europa League 22nd February 7.45pm
German side Leipzig have a good 3-1 lead in this tie to defend as they head back to home soil looking to finish the job on Thursday night. That would put them through to the round of sixteen in the UEFA Europa League for the first time. It was an impressive result out in Rome, but they can expect a fight back from the Serie A leaders who now have nothing to lose really.
RB Leipzig News and Form
That was a really impressive first leg win that Leipzig laid down over Napoli with Timo Werner netting a brace. Can they finish the job? From their home form in Europe this season the Germans are W1 D1 L1 so far and they haven’t picked up a home clean sheet either so it is worth looking at both teams to score at bet365 for 3/4 as Napoli have to come out hard. In total Leipzig have conceded five goals in their three European home games so far this season. They dropped down from the group stage of the Champions League, their first ever showing there in what is their debut UEFA competition campaign. Their current form across all competitions has seen them win three of their last four played but at home their form is patchy at best having produced a W2 D2 L2 record. Again there has been a lack of clean sheets from them at the Red Bull Arena, having taken just one in their last six outings there. Four of their last six games at home have made it over the 2.5 goal line which should be a good option for this one.
Napoli News and Form
The loss that Napoli suffered in the first leg against Leipzig (and the Italians were missing key starters for that game), is the only set back they have suffered in their last seven games across all competitions (W6 L1). So they are a form side but their European campaign hasn’t gone all that well. They went just W2 L4 in their Champions League group stage which is why they dropped to the Europa League. The Italians have now lost four of their last five away games in Europe and each of their three road games in the Champions League group stage ended in 2-1 defeats. In the bet365 correct score market an RB Leipzig 2-1 option is at 7/1* (Betting Odds taken at 8:22 p.m. on February 20th, 2018). More bad news is that Napoli have lost all five European ties in which they have been defeated at home in the first leg. The Italians had actually never won in Germany either from eight visit there (D3 L5) until they managed to get a 4-1 win at Wolfsburg in the first leg of the 2014/15 UEFA Europa League quarter-final so that’s not a good record which they boast. The Partenopei are now going to be stuck between chasing away goals and not getting picked off at the back.
RB Leipzig v Napoli Head to Head
This is the first meeting between the two clubs.
RB Leipzig v Napoli Betting Odds*
RB Leipzig 8/11, Draw 14/5, Napoli 7/2* (Betting Odds taken at 8:22 p.m. on February 20th, 2018)
RB Leipzig v Napoli Predictions
There should be plenty of life left in this tie yet as Napoli have to go out and find themselves three goals. They aren’t likely to do that at the end of the day as they have not clicked well in Europe at all this season. Look for a home win and both teams to score.
