DUBLIN, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND - Saturday, August 4, 2018: Napoli's head coach Carlo Ancelotti during the preseason friendly match between SSC Napoli and Liverpool FC at Landsdowne Road. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Napoli suffer tough defeat ahead of Liverpool Champions League tie

Liverpool head to Italy next, to face Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

The Italian side, like Liverpool, had a top of the table away match on Saturday as they headed to Turin to face Serie A holders Juventus.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side took an early lead through Dries Mertens, but two goals from Mario Madzukic and one from Leonardo Bonucci gave the home side the three points.

It was Napoli’s second defeat of the season, leaving them second in the table and six points behind Juventus.

Napoli had won their two league games since the last Champions League matchday, when they drew 0-0 in Belgrade against Red Star.

Lorenzo Insigne is the Italians’ top scorer this season, with five goals.

Midfielder and former Liverpool target Piotr Zielinski has two goals to his name.

Liverpool and Napoli played a pre-season game in Dublin last month, with the Reds convincing 5-0 victors – Wednesday’s match (8pm UK kickoff) will be a much tighter affair.

Napoli XI vs. Juventus: Ospina, Albiol, Rui, Koulibaly, Hysaj, Hamsik, Allan, Zielinski, Mertens, Callejon, Insigne

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