Barcelona will make their UEFA Europa League debut on Thursday against Napoli. The Naples-based outfit are one of the favourites to bag the Europa League title. The first of the two-legged fixture of the Round of 32 will be played at Camp Nou.
Xavi has led his men admirably since taking charge of the reigns in mid-November. The 42-year-old has had to sort out some technical deficiencies and now we can see what he wants to bring out of the team at least on the attacking front.
Defensively, Barcelona have struggled this season and will face a stern test against a potent Napoli attack, especially with Ronald Araujo likely to sit this one out.
Napoli are enjoying a solid season this time around. They are well and truly in the fight for the Scudetto, with only two points separating them and the league-leaders in Inter Milan.
🎙 #Spalletti: "We must keep on our toes and look to play our usual game"#BarçaNapoli #UEL
— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) February 16, 2022
That being said, the Gli Azzurri will be looking to exact revenge on Barcelona. The Catalans knocked Napoli out in the 2019-20 Champions League round of 16.
Napoli will start as the favourites against Barcelona and that is because of a better attack in front of the goal backed by a stable backline. The Los Cules though will fancy their chances in front of an expected sell-out crowd.
Barcelona vs Napoli – Team News
Barcelona
The Blaugrana will enter the clash with some changes. Dani Alves will not travel with the squad as he has not been registered for the Europa League. Clement Lenglet and Memphis Depay are still doubtful for this clash but could feature in the away leg. Samuel Umtiti, Moussa Wague, Ronald Araujo, Ansu Fati, and Alejandro Balde have all been ruled out of this fixture.
𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖
Getting ready for #BarçaNapoli pic.twitter.com/ZL5amdV3RY— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 17, 2022
Xavi did hint in the press conference that there would be some rotations for this fixture. This could potentially mean that we could see Ousmane Dembele make his first start in over a month. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is also in line to get his first full appearance with the Blaugrana.
Napoli
For Napoli, the only worrying sign on the injury front would be that Victor Osimhen had to skip training on Wednesday due to injury. Osimhen though, has not been ruled out of the fixture and will start the game. Kalidou Koulibaly returned to action for the Gli Azzurri in Serie A, after his AFCON victory with Senegal.
Axel Tuanzebe, Matteo Politano, Hirving Lozano, and Stanislav Lobotka have all been ruled out of this fixture because of injury.
Barcelona vs Napoli – Predicted Lineups
Barcelona predicted lineup (4-3-3) – Ter Stegen, Dest, Pique, Garcia, Alba, Busquets, de Jong, Pedri, Dembele, Aubameyang, Traore
Napoli predicted lineup (4-2-3-1) – Meret, Rui, Koulibaly, Rrhamani, Lorenzo, Ruiz, Anguissa, Insigne, Zielinski, Elmas, Osimhen
Barcelona vs Napoli – Key players
Barcelona – Adama Traore
Traore is enjoying a good start to life in Barcelona. The former Wolves winger now has two assists from as many appearances. His explosive pace and dribbling are what could potentially decide the outcome of this game. The Spaniard will play as a right-winger and will be a handful for the Napoli backline. Traore’s decision-making could be the decisive factor on Thursday.
Napoli – Lorenzo Insigne
Insigne has been in fine form this season. The Italian has scored six goals and has assisted on five occasions from 20 appearances for his side and like Traore, he can turn the game on its head. The Barca defence is likely to struggle in front of Insigne and the 30-year-old could hold the key for his side in this fixture.
Score prediction: Barcelona 1-2 Napoli
