FC København welcome Napoli to Parken stadium on Tuesday evening, January 20, 2026, in a crucial Champions League clash that could define both sides' European campaigns. Jakob Neestrup's Copenhagen sit 5th in the Danish Superliga but have struggled in Europe, while Antonio Conte's Napoli, third in Serie A, desperately need points from 23rd place in the Champions League standings. It's the first-ever meeting between these clubs, with the Italians arriving as favorites despite a mounting injury crisis.
Copenhagen's preparation has been limited to friendly matches, with draws against Brann (1-1) and Sturm Graz (4-4) since the Danish league's winter break began. Their Champions League campaign has been disappointing, collecting just seven points from six matches including defeats to Tottenham (0-4) and Villarreal (2-3). Neestrup will be without suspended duo Lukas Lerager and Liam West, plus injured pair Magnus Mattsson and Rodrigo Huescas. Mohamed Elyounoussi and Jordan Larsson will shoulder the attacking burden, with 17-year-old Viktor Dadason—who has already scored twice in this season's Champions League—likely to feature up front.
Napoli's form heading into this fixture is mixed after grinding out a 1-0 win over Sassuolo on Saturday. That victory followed three consecutive draws against Parma (0-0), Inter Milan (2-2), and Hellas Verona (2-2), plus an earlier defeat to Lazio (0-2). Conte's injury list has grown alarmingly long, with Matteo Politano and Amir Rrahmani ruled out after picking up muscular injuries against Sassuolo. Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Billy Gilmour, Alex Meret, and David Neres also remain sidelined. The defensive reshuffle will see Alessandro Buongiorno partner Giovanni Di Lorenzo at the back, while the attack relies on Rasmus Højlund and Noa Lang to provide the cutting edge.
Since there is no previous head-to-head history between these two sides, both teams will be writing the first chapter in what could become a memorable European rivalry. Copenhagen have home advantage but face a Napoli side that, despite injuries, boasts superior quality and Champions League pedigree. The Italians need victories from their final two group matches to climb out of the elimination zone and secure knockout-stage qualification.
My model backs Both Teams to Score at 4/5 (1.80 decimal) with a 63.52% probability. The correct score prediction is Napoli 2-1, supported by expected goals of 1.47 for Copenhagen and 1.66 for Napoli. The narrow xG gap reflects how Copenhagen's home advantage could keep them competitive against a depleted Napoli side. Both teams have conceded in recent matches—Copenhagen leaked four to Sturm Graz, while Napoli's backline has been breached in four of their last five games.