Barcelona will host Napoli in the Round of 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday. The premier strikers for both teams scored in Naples. The match finished 1-1 and set up an epic battle in Catalonia.
Preview (Barcelona vs. Napoli)
Diego Maradona has always been associated with Barcelona and Napoli. Last month, the teams met in the stadium that bears his name, having both finished the Champions League’s autumn group stage somewhat weakly. As the hour mark approached, Robert Lewandowski of Barca produced a brilliant finish. They are going seven goals shy of a century in Europe’s premier club competition. However, in the 75th minute, the hosts’ star striker Victor Osimhen leveled the score in his first game back.
Even though Lewandowski’s 12th goal in as many Champions League knockout games was insufficient to give Xavi’s team a significant first-leg lead, they will be level heading into this week’s home game and have not lost in their previous five encounters with the Partenopei. The Catalan club would qualify for the quarterfinals for the first time since 2020 if they eliminated Napoli. Their performance this season suggests they may advance once more after Xavi confirmed his departure.
After securing a 1-0 victory over Mallorca on Friday night thanks to a fantastic second-half goal from Lamine Yamal, Barcelona has won eight straight games and, despite several injuries, has preserved a clean sheet in the previous three. Barca will undoubtedly be counting on winning Europe’s top award if they are to avoid finishing a challenging season without a trophy, since they are still lagging behind longtime rivals Real Madrid in the race for the La Liga championship and out of the Copa del Rey. In 20 of the last 21 instances, the Blaugrana have advanced through the opening leg of a Champions League. They did, however, lose all four of their subsequent elimination games after defeating Napoli in the “Maradona derby.”
Team News
Barcelona’s injury problems have gotten worse since the first leg in February, and they will be severely tested on Tuesday night when Pedro (hamstring) and Frenkie De Jong (ankle) miss out on the starting lineup. Gavi, an ACL injury, is already out of the picture. Fermin Lopez might play in a makeshift midfield with Andreas Christensen and Ilkay Gundogan. Ferran Torres, Alejandro Balde, and Marcos Alonso are also out. Due to an ankle issue, Raphinha’s participation is also in question. Nevertheless, Ronald Araujo is back from suspension.
After making his Champions League knockout debut in Naples at the age of sixteen, 16-year-old Lamine Yamal will now try to become the youngest goalscorer in the competition’s history. Robert Lewandowski, who is more than twice as young as his teammate, begins up front for the Blaugrana after making 12 appearances in the latter rounds and contributing to 18 goals. Victor Osimhen, meanwhile, scored his ninth Champions League goal with his equalizer against Barca. With one more, he will surpass Obafemi Martins as the most productive Nigerian player in the competition.
Barcelona 2-1 Napoli
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