Crunch knockout at Stadio Armando Diego Maradona
Barcelona will be hoping to erase the memories of recent failures on their travels in Europe when they visit Napoli for their Europa League round of 32 second leg on Thursday evening.
The Catalan Giants were the better side but could only earn a 1-1 draw in the home leg with Ferran Torres equalising from the spot in the second half, after Barca were awarded a generous penalty for handball.
Gli Azzurri took the lead through Piotr Zielinski, managed the game quite well and hung on in the closing exchanges despite struggling to handle Torres for the majority of the game.
Luciano Spalletti’s men were caught in possession in their own third quite a lot at Camp Nou and if Barca had been more clinical they would certainly have taken a commanding lead to Stadio Armando Diego Maradona.
Napoli rested players and did not look at their best in a 1-1 draw against Cagliari in the Serie A match between these two fixtures.
Background
Barca’s capitulations at Liverpool and Roma in recent years in the Champions League will give Napoli some confidence going into the match, although they could still have one eye on Serie A.
Barca are only really competing to earn a top four spot in La Liga where Napoli are well in the mix for the Scudetto.
Spalletti’s men missed the opportunity to go top of the league against Cagliari and there is an argument that it should take priority over the Europa League.
Spalletti shuffled his pack with this fixture in mind, but may not want to be doing that for the remainder of the campaign.
They have not won the Scudetto since 1989/90 and therefore, though it is a lucrative competition, with Champions League qualification looking very likely in the league, Napoli should throw themselves into the title race.
Barca have not been convincing on their travels all season and it does look an uphill task to make this one comfortable.
Goals?
Unders certainly looks a sensible bet as the midfield battle was the theme of the first leg.
However, an outright angle looked more appealing with Spalletti fully concentrating on advancing.
Napoli have scored in nine of ten.
Napoli have conceded in seven of ten.
Napoli have seen both teams score in six of ten.
Napoli have seen over 2.5 goals in two of ten.
Barca have scored in all of their last 13.
Barca have conceded in eight of ten.
Barca have seen both teams score in eight of ten.
Barca have seen over 2.5 goals in six of ten.
Barca come in as favourites and produced an encouraging display in the first leg, but with the market's position I am happy to get the draw and Napoli win onside using the Asian Handicap.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
Barca's finest hour under Xavi, the Catalan Giants progress with a 4-2 win.