Luciano Spalletti fears Rangers 'force of energy' as Napoli boss claims Champions League is like Christmas Eve

Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti admits his side’s Champions League glamour group has got him buzzing like a kid at Christmas.

But he’s not expecting a repeat of the gifts Rangers dished out to Celtic and Ajax as he warned his players to beware an Ibrox backlash. Spalletti - whose side stunned Liverpool last week and sit top of Serie A - said: "It is a wee bit like Christmas Eve, that is how happy I am to be playing in all these different games.

"As if I am being rewarded with all these presents for my good behaviour. It is sentimental for football to have a group with so many great, historical teams in it. That doesn’t always happen in this tournament so the chance to go and play in all of these great stadiums is something that I am really looking forward to.”

But the Italian is concerned Rangers will not be the pushovers they were in their Old Firm and Amsterdam pastings with their ferocious home support behind them. Spalletti said: "We know that Rangers can play how they play home and away and they are used to this sort of pressure.

"This sort of stadium becomes a push, a force of energy to the players. I have read players from the past saying that it is impossible to come here and not feel some sort of reaction with the atmosphere. I am sure it will have an amazing reaction for the players."

If Napoli are to make it two wins from two in Group A, they will have to do it alone after UEFA banned away supporters from travelling to Glasgow amid policing concerns in the build up to the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

But former Fulham ace André-Frank Zambo Anguissa says Napoli are aiming to give the fans back home something to celebrate. He said: “It will be hard to play without them.

"In our hearts, we know