Benfica vs. Napoli: Champions League official MD6 line-ups

NAPLES, ITALY – DECEMBER 07: Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Juventus FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 07, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Napoli stick to Rasmus Hojlund, David Neres and Scott McTominay as they visit Jose Mourinho’s Benfica in the Champions League.

It kicks off at the Estadio da Luz at 20.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Juventus-Pafos on the Liveblog.

The Partenopei are fresh from some big Serie A victories over Roma and Juventus to stay top of the table alongside AC Milan.

However, an injury crisis means squad rotation is simply not possible, so Antonio Conte sticks with the same line-up that won on Sunday.

He is missing Stanislav Lobotka, Billy Gilmour, Kevin De Bruyne, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, Miguel Gutierrez and Romelu Lukaku.

McTominay had a few issues at the weekend, but is still passed fit to start, with Eljif Elmas retaining his midfield spot.

Noa Lang continues to form the trident with a revitalised Neres, while Hojlund ended his two-month goal drought with a brace against Juventus.

Former Inter and Roma coach Mourinho is now in charge of Benfica, a job he took on September 18 after parting company with Fenerbahce by mutual consent in late August.

His rapport with Conte has always been rather fractious, and his team had a disastrous start to the Champions League this season, losing four in a row before the surprise 2-0 victory away to Ajax.

Dodi Lukebakio and Henrique Araujo have joined long-term absentees Alexander Bah and Bruma on the treatment table.

Fredrik Aursnes and Ukrainian talent Georgiy Sudakov start, but there are two surprises, above all star striker Vangelis Pavlidis dropped in favour of Franjo Ivanovic.

Former Juventus midfielder Enzo Barrenechea and ex-Roma left-back Samuel Dahl also feature, with veteran Argentina international defender Nicolas Otamendi.

Benfica vs. Napoli line-ups

Benfica: Trubin; Dedic, Tomas Araujo, Otamendi, Dahl; Barrenechea, Rios; Aursnes, Barreiro, Sudakov; Ivanovic

Benfica bench: Samuel Soares, Antonio Silva, Pavlidis, Manu Silva, Schjelderup, Prestianni, Jose Neto, Wynder, Rodrigo Rego, Joao Veloso, Joao Rego, Tiago Freitas

Napoli: Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Di Lorenzo, Elmas, McTominay, Olivera; Neres, Hojlund, Lang

Napoli bench: Contini, Ferrante, Juan Jesus, Politano, Vergara, Lucca, Spinazzola, Ambrosino

Ref: Vincic (SVN)