Napoli meets Ajax in a rematch tonight with the hosts able to guarantee progress to the UEFA Champions League knockout stages if they are able to beat the visitors. On the other hand, the visitors need all three points to stay in touch with Liverpool. Napoli brutally dispatched their third consecutive Champions League opponent last week, further enhancing their image as one of Europe's most fluent attacking sides. They came from behind to hammer Ajax 6-1 on their home soil in Amsterdam. After another storming success in Europe - following successive three-goal victories over both Liverpool and Rangers - they followed up by unleashing a further flood of goals in Serie A on Sunday. 
 

When Napoli returned to domestic action, they went to lowly Cremonese and they doled out more destruction to an opposing defense, scoring three goals in the closing 15 minutes to earn a 4-1 victory. That result keeps them on top of the Serie A campaign. They are now one of the only two sides that are unbeaten in the Italian League and they now sit two points clear at the top after Atalanta's draw. Napoli have found the back of the net 13 times already in the ongoing UCL competition. Luciano Spallletti's ambition to take Napoli beyond the round of 16 could come into fruition when the knockout phase kicks off after the Qatar FIFA World Cup. 
 

Ajax must compete against the team that handed them a drubbing so soon after suffering the club's heaviest-ever loss in European competition. They do not have time to dwell on their misfortune as progress to the round of 16 is still very much up for grabs. Alfred Schreuder's men won against Rangers on their opening night before being beaten to a late goal when they traveled to Anfield Stadium to face Liverpool. They have earned themselves three points so far sitting at position 3 behind second-placed Liverpool whom they share points. 

Ajax lie second in the Eredivisie league table having only lost one game of the nine they have played in the 2022-23 season. They have netted in 27 goals and conceded only 8. They defied all odds to reach the semi-final of 2019 having eliminated some ‘European big boys’ along the way but failed to go passed Tottenham who were later thrashed by Liverpool. Ajax have faced a series of departures during the last transfer period but the most significant one was that of coach Erik ten Hag who took over a new challenge in the Premier League and is now in charge of a struggling Manchester United. Whether they will qualify for the last 16 of the competition entirely depends on the performance against a very strong Napoli side tonight.