Barcelona – Napoli

Barcelona and Napoli are going to decide everything at the Camp Nou on Saturday. These two teams will face each other in the Catalan capital in a second leg from the Champions League 1/8-finals. Let’s take a look in the next few paragraphs.

The first leg in Naples back in February ended with a 1-1 draw. Mertens opened the score for the Italians, but soon after the halftime break Antoine Griezmann equalised for Barcelona. This goal could be really important for the Catalans, but we have a feeling that it won’t be enough. Barca will need to do more in order to progress in the competition.

Los Cules’ manager Quique Setien has some plans of changing his formation for this game. Instead of the regular 4-3-3, Setien could use a 3-5-2 formation with more people in the midfield line. Sergio Busquets and Arturo Vidal are both suspended for this match, so most likely the teenager Riqui Puig will get a starting spot against the Azzurri.

Antoine Griezmann is back from an injury, so the Catalan press reports that he will start from the bench against Napoli. But we expect to see the French international back on the pitch at some moment in the game. Lionel Messi and Luis Suares should start in attack, so the Italians must be careful with them.

Napoli are very motivated to eliminate Barcelona and progress to the 1/4-finals. Gennaro Gattuso and his boys know that Barca are not at their best at the moment, so this is a great moment for them to make a spectacular performance. Napoli already won the Coppa Italia, but they are hungry for more.

Could we see Napoli surprise Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Saturday? We totally believe this is possible. But Barca remain favourites. If they show their true face it’s going to be hard for the Italians.