Rafael Benitez believes Napoli were handed the toughest
possible draw in the UEFA Champions League after being paired with Athletic
Bilbao.
The Serie A side were drawn at home in the first leg of
the play-off round tie later this month and Benitez knows Napoli must perform
at the San Paolo to give them a chance of qualifying for the group stages.
A trip to the San Mames for the return game is something
that Benitez is particularly concerned about, although he insists his squad have
the quality to progress in the competition.
Napoli were seeded in Friday's draw and could have drawn
Lille, Copenhagen, Standard Liege or Besiktas, but will face Bilbao.
"We were paired with the most difficult side of the
five we could have faced, Athletic are the strongest of them all, no doubt
about that," he said after the draw.
"They play good football and the great support of
the 50,000 fans at the San Mames make them difficult to beat for anybody.
"I think we will see two beautiful games, played
with great intensity by both sides. I think Napoli are well prepared to play a
great game and reach our objective, which is playing in the group stage."
Napoli host Bilbao in the week commencing August 18 with
the return leg in Spain a week later in what will be the first time the teams
have faced each other in competitive action.
Culled from Soccerway
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