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Chelsea are one of five Premier League clubs to finish in the top-eight of the UEFA Champions League and securing their place in the round of 16, after winning 3-2 away to Napoli on the final day of the league phase.
MORE — Champions League table
Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City all finished 8th or better as well, with Newcastle (12th) the only PL side headed to the playoff round next month. Chelsea (16 points) finish 6th, while Napoli (8 points) are out of European competition this season in 30th.
Enzo Fernandez put Chelsea ahead from the penalty spot in the 19th minute, but it was 2-1 to Napoli at halftime after Antonio Vergara and Rasmus Hojlund scored in the 33rd and 43rd minutes. Joao Pedro scored both the equalizing and winning goals, in the 61st and 82nd, taking his tally to 11 goals (and 4 assists) thus far in his first season at Chelsea.
Napoli vs Chelsea live updates – by Andy Edwards
Napoli vs Chelsea final score: 2-3
Goalscorers: Enzo Fernandez (19' – PK), Antonio Vergara (33'), Rasmus Hojlund (43'), Joao Pedro (61', 83')
GOAL! Napoli 2-3 Chelsea: Pedro finds an opening and slots home to take the lead (83')
João Pedro silences the Maradona as he bags his brace and puts Chelsea in front ✨ pic.twitter.com/LIt5cdePTq
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 28, 2026
GOAL! Napoli 2-2 Chelsea: Pedro puts an arrow in the top corner (61')
João Pedro produces a moment of magic to equalize for Chelsea pic.twitter.com/hzLIbhhHQ3
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 28, 2026
GOAL! Napoli 2-1 Chelsea: Hojlund puts the hosts ahead before halftime (43')
Rasmus Højlund sends the Maradona into a FRENZY with a tidy finish to put Napoli in front pic.twitter.com/i4CiGmHHkN
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 28, 2026
GOAL! Napoli 1-1 Chelsea: Hometown boy Vergara spins his way in for his first goal (33')
The turn ✨ , the finish
A dream moment for Antonio Vergara as he scores his first goal for his boyhood club, Napoli pic.twitter.com/1QwMa5AYEV— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 28, 2026
GOAL! Napoli 0-1 Chelsea: Fernandez converts from the penalty spot (19')
Enzo Fernández converts from the spot for his 10th goal of the season and Chelsea lead pic.twitter.com/zuIZDbZURN
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 28, 2026
Napoli starting lineup
Meret – Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Jesus – Spinazzola, Lobotka, McTominay, Olivera – Vergara, Elmas, Hojlund
Chelsea starting lineup
Sanchez – Gusto, James, Fofana, Cucurella – Santos, Caicedo, Fernandez – Estevao, Neto, Pedro
How to watch Napoli vs Chelsea live, stream link and start time
Kick off time:3pm ET Wednesday (January 28)
Venue:Stadio Diego Armando Maradona — Naples, Italy
TV Channel/Streaming: Paramount+
Antonio Conte's Napoli, the reigning Italian champions, have struggled on their return to the Champions League and need a win to try and secure their spot in the playoff round. They have lost three of their seven games so far and sit in 25th place in the table heading into the final game. They need to finish 24th or higher to grab a spot in the playoff round but are in poor form and injuries have hit them hard.
Chelsea sit in eighth place heading into this game, which is the final spot which guarantees that you go straight through to the last 16 and avoid the playoff round. But Liam Rosenior's side could win this game and still not finish in the top eight as they are level on points with five other teams and the goal difference margin is so tight.
Napoli team news, focus
Scott McTominay continues to step up and deliver big goals and moments for Napoli but Conte's side have only won once in their last six games in all competitions and were hammered 3-0 at Juventus on Sunday. They are nine points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan and Napoli's main hope of glory this season is in the Champions League. Kevin de Bruyne remains out through injury and Napoli have been hit hard by injuries consistently this season, but Romelu Lukaku has just returned from his long-term issue and should be an option off the bench. Given those injuries and their poor displays, if they can make it to the knockout rounds of the Champions League it would be a very good achievement.
Chelsea team news, focus
Cole Palmer didn't feature for Chelsea in their win at Crystal Palace on Sunday but could feature here. Dario Essugo,Levi Colwill and Tosin all remain out but Romeo Lavia is back in training after his lengthy absence. Rosenior will likely go with a 4-2-3-1 formation with Andrey Santos and Moises Caicedo sitting in midfield and both Joao Pedro and Estevao are in brilliant form up top and should start.
Napoli vs Chelsea prediction
This is a great time for Chelsea to play Napoli and it feels like their attackers will cause havoc on the counter and enjoy the fact that Napoli have to go for it. Napoli 1-3 Chelsea.
