Barcelona vs Napoli – When Barcelona hosts Napoli at Camp Nou on Thursday evening for the first leg of their Europa League knockout round playoff match, they will be hoping to gain an advantage.
After finishing third in their Champions League group, the Catalan giants were relegated to this competition, while Napoli finished second in their Europa League section behind Spartak Moscow.
Barcelona will play their first ever Europa League match on Thursday, after failing to qualify for the knockout phase of the Champions League for the first time in 17 years, finishing third in Group E behind Bayern Munich and Benfica, losing three of their six games.
The Serie A giants were disappointed in the competition last season, falling to Granada in the round of 32. They reached the round of 16 in 2013-14, quarter-finals in 2018-19, and semi-finals in 2014-15, but were ousted in the round of 32 on five times.
Napoli qualified for the knockout phase of the competition by finishing second in Group C, with 10 points earned from six games against Spartak Moscow, Leicester City, and Legia Warsaw.
Barcelona vs Napoli – Team News:
Due to injury, Barcelona will be missing Samuel Umtiti, Ansu Fati, Sergi Roberto, and Alejandro Balde, while Clement Lenglet and Memphis Depay remain doubtful.
As a result of Ronald Araujo’s injury against Espanyol at the weekend, Eric Garcia could play in the back four, while Sergino Dest should start at right-back, as Dani Alves has been left out of the squad for the Europa League’s final stages.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is gunning for a complete debut for the Catalan giants and might start at center-forward, with Adama Traore and Gavi providing assistance.
Matteo Politano and Hirving Lozano are both sidelined for Napoli, while Manchester United on-loan defender Axel Tuanzebe has been left out of the Europa League squad.
After coming off the bench against Inter at the weekend, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa is anticipated to start, while Eljif Elmas is expected to replace Politano, who was injured last time out.
Head coach Spalletti is unlikely to surprise with his starting selection, with Lorenzo Insigne slated to start on the left and Victor Osimhen set to start in the center, while Fabian Ruiz, who has been linked with a move to Barcelona, will play in the middle.
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Ter Stegen: Dest, Pique, Garcia, Alba; F de Jong, Busquets, Pedri; Traore, Aubameyang, Gavi
Napoli possible starting lineup:
Ospina; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Koulibaly, Mario Rui; Anguissa, Ruiz; Elmas, Zielinski, Insigne; Osimhen
Barcelona vs Napoli – Head-to-Head:
Our Prediction: Away Win or Draw
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