UCL line-ups: Napoli vs. Barcelona

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·21 February 2024

UCL line-ups: Napoli vs. Barcelona

Victor Osimhen and the 4-3-3 formation return on the debut of new Napoli coach Francesco Calzona against Robert Lewandowski’s Barcelona in the Champions League Round of 16.

It kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 20.00 GMT.

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The second leg will be at Camp Nou on March 12 and the away goals rule no longer applies in UEFA competitions.

This will always be a special fixture, as they are the two European clubs that Maradona played for.

It has been a chaotic campaign for the reigning Champions of Italy, who fired Rudi Garcia on November 14 and sacked Walter Mazzarri on Monday, bringing in current Slovakia coach Calzona, who was assistant manager at Napoli under both Maurizio Sarri and Luciano Spalletti.

With those mentors, he scraps the three-man defence and brings back the 4-3-3 formation, with Osimhen also able to feature for the first time in 2024 after AFCON duty.

Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and Matteo Politano complete the trident attack, with Jens Cajuste preferred to January signing Hamed Junior Traore in midfield, as Piotr Zielinski was cut from the UEFA list.

Cyril Ngonge pulled out with a slight muscular injury and Mathias Olivera is chosen rather than Mario Rui at left-back.

Barcelona are missing Marcos Alonso, Ferran Torres, Gavi and Alejandro Balde, while Joao Felix has recovered, but is only on the bench.

Veteran Lewandowski is flanked by 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal and 21-year-old Pedri, with Ilkay Gundogan and Frenkie de Jong in midfield.

They are joined by Andreas Christensen, pushed into a more advanced role from defence.

They need to be careful, because Ronald Araujo, Sergi Roberto and Joao Felix are one card away from suspension.

Napoli bench: Contini, Gollini, Natan, Mario Rui, Traore, Simeone, Lindstrom, Mazzocchi, Ostigard, Raspadori