In light of the closely contested Champions League last-16 encounter, reigning Spanish champions Barcelona and their Italian counterparts Napoli convene at Montjuic on Tuesday. Each team’s primary goal scorer demonstrated prowess in the initial leg held in Naples, resulting in a 1-1 draw, thereby intensifying anticipation for an epic clash in Catalonia.
Match preview
In a recent event commemorating Diego Maradona, Barcelona and Napoli gathered at the stadium now bearing his name, following their somewhat unimpressive performances in the Champions League’s group stage last autumn.
Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski showcased a remarkable display reminiscent of his past prowess as he netted a fine goal nearing the hour mark, bringing him within seven goals of reaching a century in Europe’s premier club competition. However, the hosts’ primary striker, Victor Osimhen, managed to equalize the score at 75 minutes, marking his return from the Africa Cup of Nations with a notable impact.
Despite Lewandowski’s goal, which marked his 12th in as many Champions League knockout matches, failing to secure a decisive first-leg advantage for Xavi’s side, Barcelona will enter the upcoming return fixture on home soil on level terms. Additionally, they maintain an unbeaten record in their last five encounters with Napoli.
Progressing to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2020 seems within reach for Barcelona, especially considering their undefeated streak of eight matches, including a recent 1-0 victory over Mallorca, where Lamine Yamal secured the win with a remarkable second-half goal. Despite facing several injury setbacks, Barcelona has managed to maintain clean sheets in their last three matches.
While trailing behind their perennial rivals Real Madrid in the La Liga title race and having exited the Copa del Rey, Barcelona’s hopes for salvaging their season may rely heavily on clinching the Champions League trophy.
History suggests that when Barcelona avoids defeat in the first leg of a Champions League tie away from home, they typically advance, having succeeded on 20 out of 21 previous occasions. However, their recent record in knockout matches leaves room for concern, having failed to win any of their last four such encounters since defeating Napoli in the ‘Maradona derby’ four years ago.
On the other hand, Napoli has struggled historically to recover from first-leg deficits in UEFA competitions, having been knocked out on the last 11 occasions they failed to secure a lead going into the away leg.
Despite reaching the quarter-finals last year, Napoli has failed to replicate their success in this season’s Champions League campaign. Coaching changes and inconsistent performances have plagued the Serie A champions, who barely made it through the group stage as runners-up in Group C.
Under interim coach Francesco Calzona, Napoli has shown signs of improvement, especially with Osimhen’s return and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia finding his form. However, their European qualification remains uncertain, despite being unbeaten in their last five matches under Calzona’s leadership.
Osimhen’s five goals and Kvaratskhelia’s four during this period offer Napoli a glimmer of hope as they travel from Campania to Catalonia. Additionally, Napoli has demonstrated their resilience away from home in the Champions League, winning five of their eight away matches since the beginning of last season, suggesting they shouldn’t be underestimated, despite missing the magic of Spalletti’s tenure.
Team News
Since the initial leg of February, the injury predicaments plaguing Barcelona have escalated to a critical level. Frenkie De Jong, nursing an ankle injury, and Pedri, hampered by a hamstring ailment, will both be absent from the home team’s starting lineup on the forthcoming Tuesday evening.
Already sidelined due to an ACL injury, Gavi further compounds the team’s midfield woes, prompting the potential inclusion of Andreas Christensen and Ilkay Gundogan alongside Fermin Lopez in a makeshift midfield setup. Additionally, Ferran Torres, Alejandro Balde, and Marcos Alonso remain unavailable. The participation of Raphinha is also uncertain owing to an ankle issue, though Ronald Araujo will make his return following suspension.
In Naples, the emergence of 16-year-old Lamine Yamal marked a significant milestone as the youngest player to feature in a Champions League knockout encounter. Now, he endeavors to etch his name in history as the youngest goalscorer in the tournament. On the other end of the spectrum, Robert Lewandowski, with 18 goal involvements in his last 12 appearances during the latter stages, spearheads the attack for Barcelona.
Victor Osimhen’s equalizing goal against Barcelona marked his ninth in the Champions League, positioning him on the brink of becoming the most prolific Nigerian player in the competition, surpassing Obafemi Martins. Leading the frontline alongside Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Matteo Politano, Osimhen aims to uphold his status as the previous season’s top scorer.
Jens Cajuste and Cyril Ngonge may be sidelined due to thigh injuries, while center-back Amir Rrahmani, who sustained a similar issue against Juventus, remains a doubt after being an unused substitute on Friday night. Leo Ostigard is poised to deputize should Rrahmani’s absence persist.
In midfield, the absence of Piotr Zielinski necessitates a replacement, as he was not included in the roster for this phase of the competition following his refusal to sign a new contract. The Polish international is anticipated to join Inter Milan during the upcoming summer transfer window.
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Martinez, Cancelo; Gundogan, Christensen, Lopez; Yamal, Lewandowski, Felix
Napoli possible starting lineup:
Meret; Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Jesus, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, Traore; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia