Barcelona will face a significant setback as they prepare for their upcoming Champions League Round of 16 encounter against Napoli, as star players Pedri and Frenkie De Jong will not be available for selection.
In their initial encounter last month, the Blaugrana were held to a 1-1 draw by the reigning Italian champions. Despite Robert Lewandowski’s early goal, Victor Osimhen’s equalizer ensured parity going into the second leg.
Meanwhile, Napoli has exhibited signs of resurgence by clinching victories in their recent Serie A fixtures against Sassuolo and Juventus. Contrastingly, Barcelona encountered challenges, securing a victory against Getafe but being unable to break the deadlock against Athletic Club, resulting in a goalless draw.
In an official announcement today, it was disclosed that Barcelona will be without Pedri and De Jong for the Napoli clash. Pedri sustained a right quadriceps injury, while De Jong suffered a right ankle ligament sprain, rendering them unavailable for the return leg scheduled for March 12th.
Napoli harbors ambitions of advancing in the Champions League, understanding that reaching the semi-finals would secure their participation in next year’s Club World Cup, displacing current contenders Juventus.