A spirited display could not prevent the game turning on its head following Juan Mata's opener in Italy, yet we remain very much in this Champions League tie.

Neutrals gave us little hope at the Stadio San Paolo against a Napoli side that has played its best football on the European stage this season, but after surviving a couple of early scared we went ahead through Mata's controlled volley, only to see the lead turn into a deficit before half-time.

First, Ezequiel Lavezzi stroked home from the edge of the area and then in injury time Edinson Cavani turned the ball home as Chelsea failed to deal with a whipped cross across the box.

The second half began brightly too, but optimism faded when Lavezzi converted his second of the evening just after the hour, and although Chelsea continued to look for a way back into the game, it was Napoli who could have added to the score when Ashley Cole, a substitute on for the injured Jose Bosingwa early on, cleared Christian Maggio's effort off the line.

So we return to London with a two-goal deficit, but knowing we can do damage against Walter Mazzarri's side. The scene is set for one of those famous nights at Stamford Bridge.


- Match stats:

S.S.C. Nápoles: De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica; Maggio, Inler, Gargano, Zuniga; Hamsík, Cavani, Lavezzi.

Chelsea F.C: Cech; Ivanovic, D. Luiz, Cahill, Bosingwa (Cole 11’); Ramires, Meireles (Essien 70’), Malouda (Lampard 70’); Sturridge, Drogba, Mata.

Bookings: Cavani 39’, Meireles 40’, Cahill 56’,

Goals:

0-1 (27’) Mata.
1-1 (38’) Lavezzi.
2-1 (45+2’) Cavani.
3-1 (64’) Lavezzi.

- Match report by chelseafc.com