Napoli vs Barcelona – Napoli host Barcelona to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona for the second leg of their Europa League playoff clash on Thursday evening, with the tie precariously poised following a 1-1 first-leg stalemate at Camp Nou.
After Piotr Zielinski’s opener, Luciano Spalletti’s side looked set for a famous Catalan victory, but Ferran Torres equalized from the spot in the first leg.
Barcelona’s inaugural Europa League encounter was heading in the wrong direction when Zielinski was allowed to waltz into space and hammer home the opening at the second attempt after Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s initial save.
After Adama Traore’s ball struck the hand of Juan Jesus, Barca were awarded a penalties, which Ferran Torres converted to equalize the game. However, the former Manchester City striker was unable to capitalize on two late opportunities to win the game for his side.
It’s one thing to be knocked out of the Champions League early, but Barcelona can’t imagine being eliminated at this level of Europe’s secondary championship, especially considering their already precarious financial circumstances.
Xavi’s side would have carried a first-leg lead to Naples if they had been a little more clinical in front of their own fans, but there was no such lack of ruthlessness on display at the Mestalla, as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s hat-trick and Frenkie de Jong’s goal buried Valencia 4-1.
Aubameyang, who is spearheading this new-look Barcelona attack, appears to be putting his Arsenal exit behind him, and the former Borussia Dortmund player might yet play a vital role in ensuring that the ongoing Ousmane Dembele story has a happy ending.
Napoli vs Barcelona – Team News:
Napoli has lost its right-back. On Monday night, Giovanni Di Lorenzo had a serious clash of heads with Cagliari’s Giorgio Altare, and Spalletti now has a dilemma after his replacement Kevin Malcuit left with a calf problem.
Hirving Lozano, Matteo Politano, Stanislav Lobotka, Andre Zambo Anguissa, and Lorenzo Insigne are all out for the hosts, with young right-back Alessandro Zanoli likely to start if neither Di Lorenzo nor Malcuit are cleared to play.
Di Lorenzo’s head injury had no long-term ramifications, according to Napoli’s website, thus the Italian might controversially line up as Victor Osimhen prepares to assume Andrea Petagna’s place at the top.
Meanwhile, Dani Alves and Gerard Pique of Barcelona both served domestic suspensions over the weekend, but only the latter is eligible for the Europa League, and Jordi Alba’s looming La Liga suspension has no bearing on this match.
The visitors will be without Samuel Umtiti, Ansu Fati, Alejandro Balde, and Sergi Roberto, who are also concerned about Eric Garcia and Frenkie de Jong following their early substitutes against Valencia.
At this point, there’s no reason to believe they won’t play in Naples, though Pique’s comeback should see him displace Garcia alongside Ronald Araujo, while Clement Lenglet and Memphis Depay might also compete for spots after returning to training.
Napoli possible starting lineup:
Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Koulibaly, Jesus; Ruiz, Demme; Elmas, Zielinski, Mertens; Osimhen
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Ter Stegen; Dest, Araujo, Pique, Alba; Pedri, Busquets, Gavi; Traore, Aubameyang, Torres
Napoli vs Barcelona – Head-to-Head:
Our Prediction: Over 1.5 Goals
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