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Defending Italian Serie A champions Napoli will play for pride. The 'War of the Stars' is a pivotal match for qualification to the UEFA Champions League tournament.

Napoli will host Sporting Braga in the sixth leg of their 2023-2024 UEFA Champions League Group C match at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples, Italy, on June 13 (ET). It's a crucial battle for a place in the Champions League.

Napoli have been on a distinct downward spiral lately. They've gone 1-4 in five games. Three consecutive defeats have put their heads down. They've crashed out of both the Champions League and the league. They missed out on a chance to qualify for the round of 16 in the Champions League and dropped to sixth place in the Italian Serie A. They've felt the absence of "monster defender" Kim Min-jae.

In particular, the team suffered two consecutive losses in the Serie A Big Bang. They were brought to their knees by Inter Milan 0-3 and Juventus 0-1. As champions last season, they had plans to knock off the big boys, but that didn't happen. Back-to-back losses in crucial matches sent them down the standings.

In the Champions League, things aren't much better. After five rounds of the group stage, the team is in second place in Group C. With two wins, one draw, two losses, and half a tie, they're in second place with seven points. They have a good chance of advancing to the knockout stages. But they can't let their guard down.

A loss against Braga at home on the 13th could be the worst thing that could happen. A loss to Braga, who are in third place with four points, could cost them second place. That's why they need to stay on their toes. In Group C, Real Madrid have secured an early lead in the group with five straight wins, while Napoli and Braga are preparing for a final battle for second place.

Napoli only need a draw against Braga on Wednesday to secure a spot in the round of 16. A draw would not allow them to overtake Braga. However, they are in 토토 desperate need of a win, having lost three in a row and looked lethargic at home. A win in their final home game of the Champions League group stage will restore their pride and calm their fans' anger.

If Napoli can finish their Champions League fixtures well on the 13th, they can keep their hopes alive. On the 17th, they host Cagliari at home, who are in the bottom half of the Italian Serie A table. They then face Frosinone in the Coppa Italia before traveling to AS Roma on the 24th. The first priority is to end the three-game losing streak. The next step is to book a spot in the Champions League knockout rounds with a convincing win.