Napoli vs Barcelona Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 UEFA Champions League | Round of 16
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THE FACTS
When is Napoli vs Barcelona on and what time does it start? Napoli vs Barcelona will take place on Wednesday 21st February, 2024 – 20:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Napoli vs Barcelona? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Napoli vs Barcelona on in the UK? Napoli vs Barcelona will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK
Where can I stream Napoli vs Barcelona in the UK? Napoli vs Barcelona can be streamed live on the discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
NAPOLI
In the run-up to this encounter, the powers that be in Naples dismissed Walter Mazzarri after only three months in charge of the club, with Slovakia boss Francesco Calzona replacing him in the hot seat.
The Serie A champions are struggling domestically but they did at least qualify from their Champions League group with relative ease, finishing behind 14-time champions Real Madrid.
BARCELONA
Barcelona have experienced a rather topsy-turvy season themselves but they have at least put a half-decent run together of late, collecting ten points from the last 12 available in La Liga.
Xavi’s side narrowly topped Group H courtesy of a superior head-to-head record against Porto, and the Catalan giants will now seek to reach the Champions League quarter-final stage for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
THE TEAM NEWS
NAPOLI
A first club appearance of the year awaits star striker Victor Osimhen, who recently returned from his Africa Cup of Nations stint with Nigeria.
Incoming manager Calzona is otherwise blessed with a fully-fit squad for this first-leg tie. Given the limited time he has had to spend with his squad though, he is unlikely to deviate from the 4-3-3 setup his players have become accustomed to.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Jesus, Rrahmani, Mazzocchi; Anguissa, Lobotka, Cajuste; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
BARCELONA
The is some hope that Joao Felix can recover from an ankle problem to take his place in the squad here, but Alejandro Balde, Gavi, Sergi Roberto, Marcos Alonso and Ferran Torres have been definitively ruled out.
16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal is likely to start given his recent impressive form, while January acquisition and fellow youngster Vitor Roque could be involved in some capacity.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Koundé, Araújo, Martínez, Cancelo; De Jong, Christensen, Gündoğan; Yamal, Lewandowski, Pedri
UNAVAILABLE: Balde (Injured), Gavi (Injured), Roberto (Injured), Alonso (Injured), Torres (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Felix (Injured)
THE KEY STATS
- Napoli have lost only one of their last 16 UEFA Champions League matches at home (W10 D5).
- Napoli have won only two of their last 16 UEFA club competition matches against Spanish teams (D5 L9).
- Napoli have lost the first leg in only one of their previous four UEFA Champions League round of 16 ties (W2 D1).
- Napoli have only failed to score in one of their last 13 UEFA club competition matches against Spanish teams.
- Napoli have only failed to score in one of their previous 29 UEFA Champions League matches at home (group stage to final).
- Barcelona have lost only two of their last 12 UEFA club competition matches against Italian teams (W6 D4).
- Barcelona are unbeaten in their previous four UEFA club competition matches against Napoli (W2 D2).
- Barcelona have lost only two of their last 17 matches in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 (W11 D4).
- Barcelona are without a win in the first leg of their last five UEFA Champions League round of 16 participations (D3 L2).
- Barcelona have lost five of their last seven UEFA Champions League matches away from home (W2).
- Barcelona have won only one of their last 11 UEFA Champions League knockout phase matches outside of Barcelona (D4 L6).
THE PREDICTION
Napoli enter this match with their fourth manager in the last 12 months, with Francesco Calzona replacing Walter Mazzarri, who himself replaced Rudi Garcia after Luciano Spalletti left in the summer. It’s safe to say the Italian side's preparation hasn’t been ideal, then, but they can at least boast a fully-fit squad, including striker Victor Osimhen – who is set to make his first club appearance of 2024. Barcelona have been grinding out results lately, but they remain defensively vulnerable and the hosts are certainly capable of exploiting that weakness. Expect both teams to find the net in what promises to be an entertaining first-leg encounter.
TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
