Barcelona vs Napoli Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 UEFA Champions League | Quarter-Final
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THE FACTS
When is Barcelona vs Napoli on and what time does it start? Barcelona vs Napoli will take place on Tuesday 12th March, 2024 – 20:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Barcelona vs Napoli? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Barcelona vs Napoli on in the UK? Barcelona vs Napoli will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK
Where can I stream Barcelona vs Napoli in the UK? Barcelona vs Napoli can be streamed live on the discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
BARCELONA
Xavi will be departing Barcelona at the end of this season and the only route to silverware for the Blaugrana this season is via the UEFA Champions League but they have been so poor and underwhelming in La Liga that there is an expectation that a quarter-final appearance is the absolute best case scenario for them.
They were knocked out in the group stages of this competition in each of the last two seasons and made hard work of what should have been a relatively easy group a few months ago. They come into this one on the back of yet another lacklustre performance as they edged past Real Mallorca by a goal to nil at the Olympic Stadium in the Catalan capital.
NAPOLI
Napoli have endured an extremely difficult defence of their title this season as they battle for a place just in the top seven, let alone towards the top four and the UEFA Champions League qualifying spots. The Neapolitans are on their third manager of the campaign with current Slovakia boss Francesco Calzona in charge after the failed stints of Walter Mazzarri and Rudi Garcia.
They come into this one on the back of some improved performances with a 6-1 thrashing of Sassuolo being followed up by a 2-1 defeat of rivals Juventus in Naples but their most recent outing saw them held to a 1-1 draw by Torino. Calzona remains unbeaten in the dugout, though, after five matches in charge across all competitions.
THE TEAM NEWS
BARCELONA
After their goalless draw with Athletic about ten days ago, Xavi said that both Frenkie de Jong and Pedri had suffered ‘serious’ injuries and both midfielders remain unavailable for this second-leg on Tuesday evening.
Barca are also without the likes of Brazilian winger Raphinha, as well as Alex Balde and Ferran Torres due to respective injury issues. Defender Marcos Alonso is also a doubt for this one with a back injury that has seen him miss the last couple of months.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): ter Stegen; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Joao Cancelo; Romeu, Christensen, Gundogan; Yamal, Lewandowski, Joao Felix
UNAVAILABLE: Alex Balde (Injured), de Jong (Injured), Pedri (Injured), Ferran Torres (Injured), Raphinha (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Marcos Alonso (Injured)
NAPOLI
Throughout the campaign, due to injuries or involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations, Victor Osimhen has been a frustrating absence for Napoli but the Nigerian is back fit and firing so will be available in Barcelona.
The Neapolitans are without Sweden international midfielder Jens Cajuste, though, as he deals with a thigh injury. Their only other injury concern is January signing Cyril Ngonge, who could also be unavailable.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Juan, Rui; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
UNAVAILABLE: Cajuste (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Ngonge (Injured)
THE KEY STATS
- Barcelona have won their previous three UEFA Champions League home games this season.
- Barcelona have lost only two of their last 13 UEFA competition matches against Italian teams (W6 D5).
- Barcelona have lost only one of their last 19 UEFA competition matches at home against Italian teams (W13 D5).
- Barcelona have lost only two of their last 18 matches in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 (W11 D5).
- Barcelona have not lost any of their previous five UEFA competition matches against Napoli (W2 D3).
- Barcelona won their previous two UEFA competition two-legged ties against Napoli. A 4-2 victory on aggregate at this stage of the 2019/20 Champions League and a 5-3 win on aggregate in the 2021/22 Europa League knockout round play-offs.
- Barcelona have not lost the second leg in any of their last 16 UEFA Champions League round of 16 ties (W14 D2).
- Barcelona had won their home leg in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 on 13 successive occasions prior to a 4-1 defeat against Paris in their most recent participation at this stage of the competition in the 2020/21 season.
- Robert Lewandowski has scored 47 goals in his last 43 UEFA Champions League appearances. In the round of 16, he has 18 goals in 21 appearances.
- Napoli have won only two of their last 17 UEFA competition matches against Spanish teams (D6 L9).
- Napoli have only failed to score in one of their last 14 UEFA competition matches against Spanish teams.
- Napoli have lost all six UEFA competition ties in which they drew at home in the first leg, most recently against Barcelona in the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League round of 16.
- Napoli have lost only four of their last 17 UEFA Champions League matches (W10 D3).
- Victor Osimhen has scored five goals in his four appearances in the UEFA Champions League knockout stage. He has scored in all four appearances.
THE PREDICTION
When a Round of 16 draw is made and pits the Spanish champions against the Italian champions, the neutral has every right to expect a real classic showdown but that is and has not been the case between these two sides as they both significantly underperform their own expectations. Neither side have been at their best, although both have had recent matches where they have been able to run up the score-line. Defences will be expected to come out on top in what will likely be a tense and nervy affair with extra-time not at all unlikely.
TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
