MX23RW : Thursday, January 30 09:49:17| >> :60:1958:1958:
[monks data]
Napoli logo
Champions League | Round of 16 | 1st Leg
Feb 21, 2024 at 8pm UK
Stadio Diego Armando Maradona
Barcelona logo

Napoli
1 - 1
Barcelona

How Barcelona could line up against Napoli

How Barcelona could line up against Napoli
© Reuters
Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Barcelona could line up for Wednesday's Champions League clash with Napoli.

Bound for Italy after escaping with a late La Liga win last weekend, Barcelona will tackle Italian champions Napoli in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League contest on Wednesday.

The Spanish champions scraped past Celta Vigo but still sit third in the league standings - and eight points behind leaders Real Madrid - ahead of their return to Europe's top club competition.

Two integral players have been confirmed as available for the midweek meeting at Stadio Maradona, as head coach Xavi allayed concerns over the fitness of Ronald Araujo and Pedri, both of whom were withdrawn during the last-gasp victory over Celta Vigo.

Robert Lewandowski's brace at Balaidos took the Blaugrana's top scorer to his half-century of goals since swapping Bavarian for Catalonia, and the veteran striker will lead their attack once more.

Recent arrival Vitor Roque could make his Champions League debut this week, while 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal is also in contention to start, as Ferran Torres is sidelined by a thigh injury and Joao Felix (ankle) has only just returned to training.

Barcelona must also make do without Alejandro Balde, who is recovering after hamstring surgery, Marcos Alonso (back), and long-term absentee Gavi (ACL).

A Champions League winner last season, Ilkay Gundogan is sure to be recalled after only featuring from the bench on Saturday, meaning a change of personnel in midfield.

Barcelona possible starting lineup: Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Martinez, Cancelo; De Jong, Gundogan, Pedri; Yamal, Lewandowski, Roque

ID:537109:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect3227:
Written by
Jonathan O'Shea
No Data Analysis info
Game History

How you voted: Napoli vs Barcelona

Napoli
25.8%
Draw
19.5%
Barcelona
54.7%
528
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Barcelona midfielder Pedri on November 24, 2023
Read Next:
Xavi plays down Araujo, Pedri injury fears ahead of Napoli clash
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
QLiverpool870121
QInter Milan861119
QBarcelona861119
QArsenal861119
QAtletico860218
QB. Leverkusen851216
QAston Villa851216
QLille851216
9Real Madrid850315
10AC Milan850315
11Atalanta843115
12Dortmund850315
13Bayern850315
14PSV842214
15Benfica841313
16Feyenoord841313
17PSG841313
18Monaco841313
19Brest841313
20Juventus833212
21Celtic833212
22Man City832311
23Sporting Lisbon832311
24Brugge832311
25Dinamo Zagreb832311
26Stuttgart831410
27Shakhtar82157
28Bologna81346
29Red Star82066
30Sturm Graz82066
31Sparta Prague81164
32RB Leipzig81073
33Girona81073
34Salzburg81073
35Slovan Bratislava80080


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!