Barcelona vs Napoli Preview

Dean Smith 02 Mar 2020

Barcelona and Napoli meet for their second leg in the Champions League Round of 16
This one is hanging in the balance after a 1-1 draw at Stadio San Paolo in Naples
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Barcelona vs Napoli Score Prediction

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2-0 6/1

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Barcelona vs Napoli Info

Date: Wednesday, March 18th, 2020
Kick-off time: 8.00pm GMT
Venue: Camp Nou

Barcelona vs Napoli Head-To-Head Record

Last 4 matches (all Champions League games)

February 25th, 2020: Napoli 1-1 Barcelona
October 8th, 2019: Barcelona 4-0 Napoli
August 8th, 2019: Napoli 1-2 Barcelona
June 8th, 2014: Napoli 1-0 Barcelona

Barcelona vs Napoli Stats

Barcelona have progressed from each of their last 19 knockout ties in the Champions League after avoiding defeat away from home in the first leg
Napoli forward Dries Mertens has scored six times this season in the Champions League – the most by any player for the cub in a single European campaign
Both Gennaro Gattuso and Quique Setien are facing each other for the 2nd time in their managerial careers in the space of a month

Barcelona vs Napoli Match Preview

Wind back the weeks and head to the San Paolo and you’ll be sitting pitch-side for an average Barcelona performance against Gennaro Gattuso’s Napoli in the first-leg Champions League knockout tie. Sure, the La Liga giants have had a managerial restructure under Quique Setien and are still figuring out their best system under the Spaniard, but a distinct lack of creativity, evident in recent domestic fixtures, is starting to show – primarily in a Dries Mertens-led trademark counterattacking goal.

Not two weeks onwards and the same cracks are on display against crosstown rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu; the game finishes in favor of Gareth Bale and co whose breath-taking attacks are no match for a painfully slow Barca midfield.

This March’s second-leg, however, has all the hallmarks of an altogether different performance from the Blaugrana. To begin with, Barca’s home record is second to none, having won each of their last 19 knockout home games in front of a raucous set of home fans that makes the San Paolo contingent pale in comparison.

The second indicator lies in Setien and his form in making intelligent changes in response to defeats like the El Clasico loss. It looks as if the Spaniard will field in Frenkie de Jong at the base of the midfield in place of Sergio Busquets to help create a faster channel of attack through to the front two.

Napoli will, of course, look to sit deep in an attempt to contain this amended Barca charge, playing to their own strength by hitting the hosts on the counter. However, there is a potentiality of Merten’s being absent which will damage their forward forages, and if Arkadiusz Milic is the replacement, this tactic could be ditched altogether.

Ultimately, for all of Napoli’s attacking abilities, Barcelona’s home form should see them edge past into the Champions League quarterfinals.

Barcelona vs Napoli Tips

Barcelona vs Napoli correct score, 2-0 to the hosts @ 6/1 with Paddy Power

Barcelona vs Napoli 1st half total goals, one @ 8/5 – William Hill

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