Beşiktaş ready to stop Napoli in Champions League

Beşiktaş is aiming to halt Napoli from achieving historical success when the two clubs meet in Naples in a Champions League Group B game on Oct. 19.

The Italian side could become the first team in the Champions League history to qualify from its group after only three games, providing welcome relief from its recent troubles.

A victory over Beşiktaş, in addition to a draw in the other Group B game between Dynamo Kiev and Benfica, would guarantee last season's Serie A runner-up a place in the last 16 for only the second time.

Beşiktaş, sitting in second place in the Spor Toto Super League, drew its opening two games in the group and is undefeated in all games this season, apart from losing against to Galatasaray to penalties in the Turkish Super Cup.

Back in the competition for the first time since the 2009-2010, Beşiktaş was buoyed by a 1-0 win against Kayserispor on Oct. 15 to maintain the club's best domestic start in last five seasons.

The trip to the Stadio San Paolo will be particularly special for the Beşiktaş midfielder Gökhan İnler, who previously played for Napoli between 2011 and 2015.

"I had four wonderful years at Napoli," İnler told an Italian television station. 

"I'll be delighted to see my former teammates and people I know, even if I am in the opponent team now. I'm playing for the club I've dreamed about since my childhood and we will travel to San Paolo for a defeat," he added.

However, the 32-year-old has vowed not to celebrate, even if he scores.

Napoli, undefeated in its last 18 European matches, secured six points from its first two games despite a 4-2 home win over Benfica three weeks ago, when it scored four times in less than an hour.

Maurizio Sarri's...