Champions League: Barcelona vs Napoli Live
Preview: Barcelona vs Napoli
Barcelona vs Napoli is scheduled for Tuesday at 8:00pm at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. The champions league first leg in Naples ended in a 1-1 draw with both teams’ top scorers finding the back of the net, setting the stage for an intense showdown in Catalonia.
After a lackluster three seasons in European football, Barcelona are on the verge of reaching their first UEFA Champions League quarter-final since 2019/20, with just 90 minutes separating them. They drew the first leg of their Round of 16 match against Napoli 1-1, and with a strong record of 13 wins in their last 16 home knockout ties in the competition, with 2 draws and 1 loss, they are well-positioned to advance.
Barcelona is also in good form, coming off an eight-game unbeaten streak across all competitions, 5 wins and 3 draws, which has helped them narrow the gap with Real Madrid in La Liga. Their latest victory was a 1-0 win against Mallorca, easing some pressure on manager Xavi, who is set to depart the club this summer after potentially adding more silverware to his collection.
Their Italian guests, who made it to the quarter-finals of the UCL for the first time last season, are aiming to repeat that achievement by winning this match. However, their chances may be hindered by their poor track record in Spain, having lost five out of their last six European matches there. Despite this, Napoli is currently on a six-game unbeaten streak, with two wins and four draws, and have shown resilience by coming from behind to avoid defeat in three of those matches. In their most recent away game, they achieved a significant victory with a 6-1 win against Sassuolo in Serie A.
Head-to-head
Barcelona has a perfect record against Napoli, with the exception of one match, and they have never been defeated by them. Barcelona has won three out of the four home matches they have played against Napoli.
Prediction
Barcelona has managed to achieve a more stable series of results despite facing challenges, such as missing key players due to injuries. They have shown resilience by scoring crucial goals in the latter stages of matches, which has helped them secure important points in La Liga. Even if Napoli improves and scores in the upcoming match, Barcelona’s determination and fighting spirit are likely to carry them through to the Champions League quarter-finals.
