Скачать или смотреть Two Chelsea fans ‘stabbed’ ahead of Champions League tie with Napoli as supporters urged to take ‘ex

TWO Chelsea fans have reportedly been stabbed in Naples ahead of their crunch Champions League clash this evening.

Liam Rosenior‘s side is urging supporters travelling to Italy to take “extreme caution” after the Blues fans were rushed to hospital overnight.

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Chelsea play Napoli tonight in a crunch Champions League tieCredit: Getty

Witnesses claimed the fans were attacked as they walked to a local pub.

One fan involved said his friend was stabbed after he was allegedly chased by 25 Napoli ultras.

Chelsea said in a statement: “The club is aware of an incident that took place on Tuesday evening in Naples.

“Two fans are being treated in hospital, having sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

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“The club would like to remind all supporters to exercise extreme caution whilst in the city and take note of the advice shared ahead of this fixture.”

Naples police are yet to release a statement on the incident.

The club has strongly advised fans not to walk around alone in the city and to avoid wearing clothing that denotes them as a Chelsea fan.

A free shuttle service, which is police-escorted, is in place for the 2,500 fans with tickets to help them safely arrive at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium later tonight.

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The Italian city has an unwanted long history of away supporters being targeted during European competitions.

Back in October, Napoli and Sporting Lisbon fans brawled and threw chairs at each other during a huge scrap ahead of their Champions League match.

In March 2023, violence again flared up ahead of a clash with Eintracht Frankfurt with five Napoli fans being arrested in one night.

Two cops were injured with cars set alight as one German fan was stabbed and eight others wounded.

Chelsea travel to Naples in need of a win to avoid playing two play-off ties in the tense Champions League competition.

They currently sit in the final automatic qualifying spot with the current Europa Conference League holders going straight through to the last-16 if they can defeat former manager Antonio Conte‘s side.

Several familiar faces make up the reigning Italian champions including former Blues Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Billy Gilmour.

Also expected to start are Manchester United loanee Rasmus Hojlund and last year’s Serie A most valuable player Scott McTominay.

Chelsea’s starman Cole Palmer is travelling with the squad in a welcome boost to the visitors.

Liam Rosenior’s side have won all four of their UCL games at home, but have struggled on the road with a loss to Bayern Munich, a draw to Qarabag, and defeat in Italy already against Atalanta.

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Napoli currently sit just five points behind Chelsea but a massive 17 places below them in the table.

They need at least a point to stand any chance of making it through the play-offs qualifier.

Liam Rosenior’s side tra