Barcelona vs Napoli

Champions League

In the eagerly awaited second leg of their Champions League last-16 clash, Spanish giants Barcelona and their Italian counterparts Napoli will face off at Montjuic on Tuesday with the tie finely poised.

The first leg in Naples ended in a 1-1 draw, with both teams' star strikers finding the net, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown in Catalonia. Barcelona and Napoli, forever linked by the legendary Diego Maradona, recently clashed at the stadium bearing his name, following their somewhat unconvincing progression through the Champions League group stage.

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski showcased his prowess with a well-timed goal nearing the hour mark, inching closer to his century of goals in Europe's premier club competition. However, Napoli's main marksman, Victor Osimhen, restored parity with a goal on the 75th minute, marking his return from the Africa Cup of Nations in style.

Despite Lewandowski's prolific form, Barcelona couldn't secure a first-leg advantage. Nonetheless, they head into the return fixture on home soil with the tie evenly poised, boasting an unbeaten record in their last five encounters against Napoli.

A victory over Napoli would propel Barcelona into the quarter-finals for the first time since 2020, a feat that seems attainable considering their solid performances under departing coach Xavi. With an unbeaten streak of eight matches, including a recent 1-0 win over Mallorca, Barcelona's resilience shines through despite injury setbacks.

However, Barcelona's hopes of silverware this season seem pinned on Champions League success, especially with their trailing position in La Liga's title race and elimination from the Copa del Rey. Historically, when Barcelona avoids defeat in the first leg of a Champions League tie away from home, they've progressed on all but one occasion. Yet, recent knockout matches have proven challenging for them, with no wins in their last four since their victory over Napoli four years ago.

On the other hand, Napoli faces a similar challenge, having struggled to overturn first-leg deficits in UEFA competitions. Despite their recent resurgence under interim coach Francesco Calzona, Napoli's Champions League campaign has been lackluster compared to their domestic form.

With key players like Frenkie De Jong and Pedri sidelined due to injury, Barcelona faces a makeshift midfield, while Napoli will miss Piotr Zielinski, who is ineligible for this phase of the competition.

As both teams prepare to battle it out, Barcelona's Lewandowski and Napoli's Osimhen will be pivotal figures in their respective attacks. The possible lineups indicate an exciting clash awaits at Montjuic, with both teams eager to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.