Barcelona visits the Diego Armando Maradona stadium this Wednesday to face Naples, in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League, the last bullet that the Blaugranas have to save this turbulent season, in which Xavi Hernández has already announced his early goodbye.
The meeting brings together two clubs that triumphed months ago and are now struggling for the season. Napoli were champions of Serie A not long ago but are outside the European zone, in the middle of the current classification.
Watler Mazzarri’s team has asked for the offensive power of months ago. The Georgian Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is not as inspired as before and the Nigerian Victor Osimhen needs some fresh air fresh from the Africa Cup.
Barcelona is not at its best either. The blaugranas are very far from the leadership of LaLiga EA Sports, they were also eliminated from the Copa del Rey and were unable to win the Spanish Super Cup against their eternal rival, in which Real Madrid was far superior.
Beyond the titles, the culés cannot find their game, a situation that coach Xavi Hernández wanted to alleviate with a premature goodbye.
For this reason, the Barça team clings to the European competition. They return to the round of 16 after two years stuck in the group stage and intend not to miss this new opportunity against a rival that shared a quartet with Real Madrid in the previous round (group stage).
The match between Naples and Barcelona, ??corresponding to the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, will be played this Wednesday, February 21, at 9:00 p.m. The meeting can be seen on television on Movistar and can also be followed live through the La Vanguardia website.
