Napoli gets the bets – but will AVB get a Chelsea reaction?

LONDON. Will Napoli cause more headaches for Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas this week as the sides clash in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 in Italy?

- We have taken a string of bets on Napoli to win the first match at home, says Dan Vikman, PR Manager at online bookmaker Betclic.com.

Napoli are the favourites to win the match on Tuesday evening at odds of 2.30, while Chelsea pays a massive 3.20. The south London club, financially backed by Roman Abramovich, are still the favourites to go through at 1.62, but that can change quickly with a tricky challenge in prospect in Naples before the return leg at Stamford Bridge in mid-March.

Portuguese manager Andre Villas-Boas, is under huge pressure after a couple of turbulent weeks where Chelsea have failed to win in five competitive matches. The talk of dressing room unrest is growing even more after a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Championship side Birmingham last weekend in the FA Cup.

- Andre Villa-Boas knows Italian sides well after scouting them when he worked as assistant to Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan, but Napoli will surely be another kind of test since they play with shrewd counter-attacking moves that caused Manchester City such big problems in the group phase.

AVB, as he is called, hopes for a reaction from his players, but will he get it?

Here are the odds at Betclic.com:

Match odds
Napoli - Chelsea            2,30           3,10        3,20

Go through
Chelsea – Napoli     1,62            2,15