Champions League line-ups: Barcelona vs. Napoli

In partnership with

Football Italia

·12 de marzo de 2024

Champions League line-ups: Barcelona vs. Napoli

Victor Osimhen, Matteo Politano and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia lead the Napoli attack in the Champions League Round of 16 with Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal.

It kicks off at the Estadi Olimpico Lluis Companys – as Camp Nou is undergoing restructuring work – at 20.00 GMT.

OneFootball Videos

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.

The first leg ended 1-1, so with the away goals rule long gone in UEFA competitions, it’s winner takes all for a place in the quarter-finals and any draw will prompt extra time.

Francesco Calzona made his debut in that first game and is still unbeaten with two wins and three draws, but fresh from Friday’s disappointing 1-1 result against Torino.

He has a full squad to choose from, other than cup-tied Piotr Zielinski, so Hamed Junior Traore takes over in midfield.

Amir Rrahmani was rested against Torino and is back in defence here with Juan Jesus, even after Natan recovered from a dislocated shoulder.

Politano gets the nod rather than Giacomo Raspadori in the trident attack with Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia.

Barcelona have quite a few issues to deal with, losing both Pedri and Frenkie de Jong to serious injuries since the first leg.

Ferran Torres, Gavi and Alejandro Balde are long-term absentees and left-back Marcos Alonso is not at 100 per cent either.

Their form has not been good recently, sitting third in LaLiga after slipping behind Girona FC, but they are unbeaten in eight competitive matches.

Lewandowski is the Champions League specialist, contributing 93 goals and 26 assists in his 117 appearances.

He is flanked by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, as Joao Felix, who was only fit to be a late substitute in the first leg after an ankle problem and was expected to start tonight, but is on the bench.

There is more at stake for Napoli, as progress to the quarter-finals would practically secure their place in the Club World Cup.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Koundé, Ronald Araújo, Cubarsí, Joao Cancelo; Fermin Lopez, Christensen, Gündogan; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha

Barcelona bench: Inaki Pena, Astralaga, Inigo Martinez, Joao Felix, Oriol Romeu, Roque, Sergi Roberto, Casado, Hernandez, Guiu, Fort