'Man City are the best team in Europe' - Napoli's Albiol expecting Champions League goal glut

The World Cup-winning defender is expecting there to be plenty of entertainment when two free-scoring sides lock horns on a European stage

are “the best team in Europe” and promise to put on quite a show against , says Raul Albiol.

Pep Guardiola’s Premier League title hopefuls have been in scintillating form this season, with their latest outing seeing them crush hapless Stoke 7-2 at the Etihad Stadium.

Napoli 15/4 to beat Man City

They have now found the target 29 times in the English top-flight, to hit a 123-year high, while also collecting back-to-back wins and two clean sheets in Europe.

Their next outing will see them lock horns with another free-scoring side, leaders Napoli – who have 26 goals and two continental victories to their name – and World Cup winner Albiol is expecting fireworks in Manchester on Tuesday.

The international told Mediaset Premium after helping Napoli to a 1-0 win over Roma: “We are happy to have won a tough game, as it’s always difficult away to .

“There’s a long way to go yet, we must stay calm and focus on recovering our energy to face the best team in Europe right now, Manchester City."

He added on the City clash: “I hope it’ll be a great game. Naturally, as a defender, I can’t hope for it to end 4-3, but everyone is waiting for these two teams who attack and score a lot of goals.

“We hope for a great performance and will be concentrated in Manchester.

“We’re in good shape too, I think the team has improved its mentality from previous years and doesn’t make the same mistakes. Because of that, we are getting more consistent results.”

Napoli are currently five points clear at the top of the Serie A standings, with reigning champions suffering a rare home defeat in their latest outing.

can close the gap on Sunday, but they face a derby date with at the San Siro.

Whatever happens in that contest, Napoli will head to in midweek in buoyant mood and confident that they can be the ones to offer a first bump in the road for Guardiola’s Manchester City juggernaut.