Given the volatile atmosphere awaiting Manchester City in the cavernous Stadio San Paolo, it is perhaps no surprise to discover that Napoli’s intimidating home ground is built on volcanic rock in an area known here as Campi Flegrei.
The 60,000-capacity venue is the third biggest in Italian football after Milan’s San Siro and the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, but arguably the most hostile.
It will certainly play a part when Pep Guardiola’s side attempt to qualify for the Champions League knockout stage with either a win or draw in Group F on Wednesday night.
The Napoli supporters could play a crucial role for their side against Man City on Wednesday
The 60,000-capacity venue is third biggest in Italian football, but arguably the most hostile
Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri says he wants to ‘see fear on City’s faces’ when they walk out of the tunnel, and Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho has likened it to playing a game at home in South America.
‘Most of our young players don’t know how it is, especially when you have to go away to Argentina, Uruguay and Chile,’ he said. ‘It’s going to be a huge game and the atmosphere will be amazing.
‘On the pitch we need to be calm. concentrate on our job, and try to win the game. They try to do everything to disturb you, but I hope our team can be 100 per cent focussed and it doesn’t make any difference.’
Napoli’s home has served them well in recent times. They have not lost in Serie A here since February, surging to the top of the table on the back of 10 wins and one draw from their opening 11 games.
Comparisons with City’s barnstorming early-season form are obvious. The defeat by Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of last season’s Champions League was only Napoli’s second in 23 European games at home.
Diego Maradona turned 57 this week and the place where he is still worshipped as a footballing god has changed little since he retired 20 years ago.
A volatile atmosphere awaits Manchester City in the cavernous Stadio San Paolo
Ultras cram into the stands, generating one of the loudest and most intimidating atmospheres
Situated in the western suburb of Fuorigrotta, and named after the saint who is said to have fist landed here, there is an air of decay to a stadium that first opened in 1959. But, like the club itself, the Stadio San Paolo has survived through tough times.
Even when Napoli were made bankrupt in 2004 and dropped down to Serie C, the average attendance topped 50,000 such is the loyalty and passion of their fans.
The ultras cram into Curva A and Curva B, generating one of the loudest and most intimidating atmospheres in Italian football.
Over the years, parts of the stadium have been closed down before they fell down.
The stands were initially built of marble but the ground was upgraded for the 1990 World Cup, hosting England’s 3-2 comeback win against Cameroon and the semi-final between Argentina and Italy when Maradona broke the hearts of the host nation by converting the winning penalty in the shootout.
Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri speaks during a press conference on Tuesday morning
Sarri hopes the San Paolo Stadium and the home fans will strike some fear into the visitors
It did not affect the popularity of the man who famously helped Napoli win the Scudetto in 1987 and 1990. Merchandise dedicated to the Argentine icon is still widely on sale in the stalls around the ground.
The capacity was reduced from 86,000 to 60,000 following a huge storm in 2001 that caused extensive damage and forced Napoli to play their home games elsewhere.
In recent years they have explored the possibility of moving elsewhere or completely renovating the stadium and naming it after Maradona.
For now, though, it remains an impressive, imposing venue — as Manchester City will no doubt discover on Wednesday night.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that his side could suffer in Naples
