Barça look to ward off their European 'ghosts' against a Napoli side at their lowest ebb

Published:20/02/2024 - 20:41h

Updated:21/02/2024 - 17:51h

FC Barcelona returns to the 2023/2024 Champions League, and also to the round of 16. The Catalans will open their tie against Napoli on Wednesday, in a visit in which both teams will practically play for the rest of their season

The FC Barcelona will begin to play this Wednesday his season in the Champions League when it visit to the Napoli in the party of gone of the eighth of final of the maximum continental competition. The culés will bump precisely to the rival in front of which reached the quarter-finals for the last time, in the season 2019/2020, and one that besides also will play follow with life in the only title in which it still has options.

Remembering what went the way of both clubs in the phase of groups, the Napoli defeated home to the Sporting of Knickers by 2-0 in his last party to finish ensuring like this his ticket. His big goleador, Victor Osimhen, marked a doublet that day and again will be the elder looms that the napolitanos will have to his favour, highlighting besides that they do not know the defeat in his four last parties home in all the competitions, with two triumphs and two ties.

Two phases of groups something similar for Barça and Napoli

The Italians finish advancing with 10 units, escorting to a Real Madrid in passing perfect in his sector, whereas the Barça finish the liguilla with a defeat in front of the Amberes (3-2). The good news for the culés, further of his evident irregularity, is that it seems to have moved away the defeats and has tried to go back to be this able team to take out points, still without playing in his best version.

It is necessary to highlight equally that it is a duel that in Europe has come repeating in the last polish, and in the two last antecedents the classification has been for the Barcelona. The Barça imposed in the last clash (4-2), in February of 2022 in the stadium Diego Armando Maradona, in an eliminatory of eighth of final of the Europe League, back to a 1-1 initial in Barcelona. Jordi Alba opened the marker for the Barça in the minute 8. Frenkie Of Jong, Hammered and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also saw door. Lorenzo Insigne and Matteo Politano marked for the Partenopei.

The Barça has been and feels upper

Previously, in that mentioned course 19/20, the Barça finished empatando (1-1) in Italy and finally advanced to the quarter-finals after a triumph by 3-1 in the City Condal. To level of enfrenamientos historical, the Barça great five triumphs, two ties and an only defeat. Perhaps with this impulse in mind, Xavi Hernández even has left clear in press conference that "our aim is to arrive to chambers", explained this Tuesday.

"We will go out to win. Empatar Is not a good result for the Barça, to me have educated me like this. Although there is have in mind that play the turn in Montjuïc", commented the míster, the one who besides left clear that "for us is fundamental to defend well. It is difficult to stop to Kvaratskhelia, Osimhen and Politano", evidenciando that the options for the culés go through to try achieve a goal to zero this Wednesday, or at least not receiving more than a so much.

High, variants and premières in this Napoli-Barça

It is necessary to highlight equally that the Catalan entity has recovered for the start of this eliminatory to Joao Félix and Sergi Roberto, both already announced like part of the list of summoned. The Portuguese will be a big option of attack for Xavi in the second time, understanding that the egarense surely will pose a XI with a system of four mediocampistas.

The party also will be marked by the debut in the bench napolitano of Francesco Calzona, the one who will be the third trainer of the season for the Napoli after the failures of Rudi García and Walter Mazarri this course, which have to the valid champion of the Series To sailing in the half of the classification. For the Barça will be a possibility to play in front of a team that will have to reiniciar again his concepts, but also knowing that it will not have a lot of where guide regarding what could find on the field.