Three Reasons Why Napoli Are Champions League Favourites After Quarterfinal Draws

• Napoli has been drawn to face fellow Italian side AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals
• The Naples club have been tagged as favourites to lift their first Champions League trophy this season
• Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are also some of the favourites left in the tournament

Napoli are having an unbelievable 2022/23 campaign.

The Italian side only recently qualified for the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in their history after defeating Eintracht Frankfurt 5-0 over two legs in the round of 16.

The Partenopei also hold an 18-point lead in the Serie A as they look more likely to win their first league title since Diego Maradona led them to the title in 30 years ago.

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Napoli has played with a certain swagger under Luciano Spalletti this season that has seen them earn the plaudits from their opposition including the likes of Pep Guardiola, Goal reports.

With the quarterfinal draws for the Champions League concluded, Sports Brief has highlighted three reasons why Napoli should emerge as winners this season.

1. An easy route to the final

Napoli has been drawn to face fellow Italian side AC Milan in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions Lague after the draws were conducted on Friday, March 17.

The Partenopei are playing with a quality and consistency that has left the likes of Milan trailing in their wake already in Serie A.

Napoli has already beaten the Rossoneri this season, triumphing 2-1 at San Siro back in September and will once again be considered favourites to progress against their countrymen in the quarterfinals.

AC Milan will host Napoli in the first leg at San Siro on April 11 with the reverse fixture taking place at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium a week later on April 18.

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Napoli has been drawn to face the winners between Inter Milan and Benfica in the semi-finals, thereby avoiding top teams like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Manchester City until the final in Istanbul.

2. The Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia effect

Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have been two of Napoli’s standout players this season.

Both forwards have propelled Napoli to the heights they have achieved this season with their partnership in attack which has produced lots of goals for the Naples club.

Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have 53 goals and assists between them this season.

The only duos with more in Europe is Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne (64) as well as Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé (66). The season the first two are having is just insane.

If Napoli are to win their UEFA Champions League title, certainly, Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia will be key to that happening this season.

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3. Wrapping up Serie A early

Napoli are on the verge of ending their 30-year wait for winning the Serie A title following their remarkable run in the domestic league this season.

Luciano Spalletti’s men are already 18 points clear of their closest challenger Inter Milan, having gathered 68 points from 26 games played so far.

Napoli needs to secure at least five more wins from their remaining 12 games of the season to be crowned as champions of Serie A.

Winning the league early will mean Napoli can now rest more players in the league and focus more on the Champions League.

Napoli boss slams Guardiola’s remarks

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Luciano Spaletti has responded to Pep Guardiola's claims that his side are currently the best team in Europe.

Napoli will be among the teams in the quarter-final draw on March 17, alongside Guardiola's Manchester City.

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The Italian giants are undoubtedly among the favourites after leading an almost error-free season so far.