Barça travels to Italy to defend an unbeaten record against the club from Naples. The teams have met three times in European competition, with Barca boasting a record of one win and two draws. Their only previous visit to Napoli, Barça drew 1-1. It was thanks to a second-half goal from Antoine Griezmann in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie in 2019/20.
What happens when Barça draws in the first leg: Barça has drawn at Camp Nou on six occasions in the first leg. They managed to make it through the tie on three occasions.
Napoli is the side with the greatest expected goals ratio in the Europa League on 15.8. More than Bayer Leverkusen (13.5), Betis (12.8), and Leicester City (11.7). Luciano Spalletti’s team are top scorers in the competition this season on 16 goals, level with French club Olympique Lyonnais.
Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti has a headache coming into the home leg against Barça. Zambo Anguissa, Lobotka, and Kevin Malcuit are all missing due to injury, a list that Hirving Lozano and Tuanzebe already populate.
Captain Lorenzo Insigne missed Napoli’s 1-1 draw with Cagliari in Serie A at the weekend. But coach Spalletti confirmed he would be OK to start in his pre-game press conference on Wednesday in Naples.
(Copied from sportening app)
