Barcelona host Napoli on Saturday night on behalf of the knockout stages of the Champions League. After the draw in the first leg, the two teams hope to make the difference to advance to the quarter-finals.
FC Barcelona vs SSC Napoli Free Betting Tips
Barcelona had been very sterile in the first leg played in Napoli but still managed to bring back a good draw (1-1). As usual, the partners of Leo Messi had confiscated the ball but they had, on the other hand, seemed in lack of inspiration in attack. They had also equalized, through Griezmann, on their only shot on target of the match and this draw remains a good result before playing the return match at Camp Nou. Present in the 1st round in a fairly competitive Group F, the Catalans had enforced the hierarchy by winning, with a solid record of 4 wins and 2 draws 1st place, ahead of Dortmund, Inter, and Slavia Prague. In La Liga, the Blaugrana, on the other hand, dropped the title in favor of Real Madrid. Defeated by Osasuna at home (1-2) on a penultimate day, they still concluded this season with a good performance against Alaves (0-5).
Pushed by his Tifosi, Napoli had, therefore, more than resist against Barcelona in the first leg. After opening the scoring, Gennaro Gattuso’s men conceded the equalizer on the hour mark when they were not really in danger (1-1). During the group stage, the Italian team finished in 2nd place in group E, behind Liverpool but ahead of Salzburg and Genk. Strongly affected by an internal crisis at the start of the season, the club suffered the consequences on the sporting level. The president wanted to lay off his players, who revolted, which angered the leaders and the resignation of Carlo Ancelotti. But after tumultuous months, calm returned to the edge of Vesuvius and Napoli ended their season very strong. A man has managed to unite his locker room, his name is Gennaro Gattuso. Under the leadership of the former AC Milan midfielder, Napoli won matches and won the Italian Cup to the detriment of Juventus Turin. At the end of the match, we could see President De Laurentiis celebrating the title with his players. In Serie A, the Neapolitans, however, could not slip into the wagon of the leading teams. Defeated by Parma (1-2), they then disposed of Sassuolo (2-0) but could not resist Inter (2-0). Saturday, they put an end to this season by winning against Lazio (3-1) and finishing 7th in the Italian championship.
Staff for FC Barcelona vs SSC Napoli
Again with a knee injury at the end of the season, Umtiti will miss his club’s last games. Also, the midfield will be handicapped by the suspensions of Vidal and Busquets. On the other hand, the other French of the squad Griezmann, Lenglet, and Dembelé got rid of their respective physical glitch and are well in the group.
Napoli will only be deprived of its Algerian international side Ghoulam, injured, but who has lost his place anyway. Injured against Lazio, Insigne is uncertain. The little-used Younes (ex-Ajax) and Malcuit (ex-Sainté) were not retained in the group by Gattuso.
The compositions for FC Barcelona vs SSC Napoli
The probable composition of Barcelona:
ter Stegen – Semedo, Piqué, Lenglet, Jordi Alba – de Jong, Puig, Rakitic – Messi, Suarez, Griezmann.
Absent: Vidal, Busquets (suspended), Umtiti (injured).
Not sure: None.
The planned tactical disposition (4-3-3):
ter Stegen
Semedo – Pique – Umtiti – Jordi Alba
by Jong – Puig- Rakitic
Messi – Suarez – Griezmann
The probable composition of Napoli:
Ospina – Di Lorenzo, Manolas, Koulibaly, Mario Rui – Fabian Ruiz, Demme, Zielinski – Callejon, Mertens, Insigne (or Milik).
Absent: Ghoulam (injured), Malcuit, Younes (choice).
Unsure: Badge.
The planned tactical disposition (4-3-3):
Ospina
Di Lorenzo – Manolas – Koulibaly – Mario Rui
Fabian Ruiz – Demme – Zielinski
Callejon – Mertens – Badge
The history of the confrontations FC Barcelona vs SSC Napoli
Aside from the first leg clash, it had been far too long since Barca and Napoli faced.
Key points for the match FC Barcelona vs SSC Napoli
– Barcelona remains on several disappointments in the Champions League and aims to triumph again on the European stage.
– Barcelona has been forced to change coaches this season and are not among the big favorites to lift the trophy in C1 this year.
– Napoli has had an eventful season (change of coach, the conflict between the players and the president) but appeared more convincing after the suspension of the season.
FC Barcelona vs SSC Napoli Free Betting Tips
Napoli was very strong at the end of the season and the Neapolitan club seems to be able to still doubt Barça as in the first leg.
Betting Tips: Draw or victory Napoli
Odds: 2.20Betting Tips: FC Barcelona
Odds: 1.67Betting Tips: Napoli
Odds: 5.25
A GOAL PROGNOSIS
Even if Napoli could make his match, Messi should as often also make his.
Betting Tips: Messi to score
Odds: 1.70Betting Tips: Draw
Odds: 4.20