Barcelona-Napoli is a match valid for the return leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League and is played Tuesday at 9 p.m.: TV, streaming, probable formations, predictions.
The incentive has been put on the plate by President Aurelio De Laurentiis, who will bestow as much as 10 million euros to his players in case they pass the round. A super-premium so that Napoli will pull off the feat against Barcelona, make it to the quarterfinals and get closer to that very rich Club World Cup that otherwise, in case of elimination, would remain a dream in the drawer.
On Catalan soil, then, the Italian champions are playing a whole season. The Champions League as the last foothold to prevent the post-scudetto year from going down in history as one of the most disappointing of the last decade. The Azzurri, in fact, have endured some very troubled months so far. They have changed as many as three coaches and have never really been in contention for that tricolor won last April after 33 years of waiting. Even participation in the next Champions League is by no means certain, since Napoli, now coached by Francesco Calzona, is -7 from fourth place and -4 from fifth. With the new coach, who made his debut precisely against the Blaugrana in the first leg, flashes of “good play” are being seen again. And many players have returned to render as in the past (Kvaratskhelia above all). Problems, however, remain. This was demonstrated last Friday by the challenge with Torino, in which Napoli did not go beyond a draw (1-1) and for the eighth time in a row did not keep the goal inviolate. A step back from the victories with Sassuolo and Juventus, but in any case the fifth useful result since the ownership decided to break the relationship with Mazzarri.
Napoli hunting for the feat
To get the better of the Blaugrana will need a different performance from that of three weeks ago, in which to be saved were only the result (1-1) and the reaction after Lewandowski’s goal, which led to Osimhen’s equalizer.
Otherwise, Barcelona played better than Napoli but did not materialize the many chances they created and qualification remained in the balance. Xavi’s team, in any case, is not unbeatable, quite the contrary. In the La Liga standings it was again overtaken by Girona in second place despite a narrow success against Mallorca, decided by a goal from enfant prodige Yamal (1-0). Leading Real Madrid remains distant (+8) but making their way into the Champions League could be a way to straighten out a season that so far has not provided much satisfaction. Xavi, meanwhile, has armored the defense, with his Barça side having not conceded a goal since Napoli despite the many absences it has to deal with.
Against Napoli there will be no Gavi, Pedri, de Jong, Baldé, Ferran Torres and Alonso. Christensen is expected to play again at the helm, while Raphinha and Yamal will act on either side of Lewandowski. Calzona’s doubt, however, is in defense, where Ostigard and Mazzocchi are pawing the ground.
The Prediction
Barcelona unbeaten in the last five challenges with the Azzurri. And in general since the end of January, when in front of their own public they had the worst with Villarreal. Compared to three weeks ago, the blaugrana will find a different Napoli, grown from the point of view of the game and again in confidence. The feeling is that in Catalonia, Calzona’s team will play its chances, also taking advantage of the more tepid environment of the “Companys” stadium (not playing at Camp Nou, under renovation). Very difficult in short to overbalance on the result, we imagine a balanced match in which both should score. Barça remains favored for qualification.
Barcelona-Napoli
probable lineups.
BARCELONA (4-3-3): ter Stegen; Koundé, Araujo, Cubarsí, Martínez; Cancelo, Christensen, Gündoğan; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha.
NAPOLI (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Østigård, Juan Jesus, Mazzocchi; Zambo Anguissa, Lobotka, Traoré; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-2
