Napoli v Barcelona betting tips and predictions | OneFootball

Napoli face Barcelona in a heavyweight Champions League last-16 tie and the stakes are high for both clubs in Wednesday’s first leg in Naples.

This time last season Napoli were romping towards the Serie A title but this term they lie ninth in the Italian top flight and manager Walter Mazzarri was sacked on Monday night.

Barca, meanwhile, have reached the Champions League knockout stage for the first time since 2020-21 and are hoping to give coach Xavi the perfect send-off before he departs at the end of the campaign.

By James Milton

Draw @ 5/2 with bet365

Neither Napoli nor Barcelona fans will be feeling bullish going into the Champions League round of 16 and the draw looks an appealing bet in Wednesday’s first leg.

Napoli cruised to the Scudetto in 2022-23, when they also appeared to be serious contenders for the Champions League before a surprise 2-1 aggregate defeat to Milan in the quarter-finals.

This term’s Serie A title defence has been a disaster for Napoli – they are 27 points behind leaders Inter after just 24 matches – and they lost 3-2 and 4-2 to Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage.

The Italian champions took ten points from their other four Group C games against Braga and Union Berlin but they are hard to trust at home to Barcelona.

Slovakia manager Francesco Calzona has replaced Mazzarri on a short-term contract and he faces a daunting debut, especially if star striker Victor Osimhen is not fit enough to start.

Barca have injury problems of their own, with Joao Felix, Gavi and Ferran Torres among the creative players expected to miss out for the Catalan giants.

They pipped Porto to top spot in Group H despite losing their last two away games against Shakhtar Donetsk and Royal Antwerp.

Barca have won only three of their last ten Champions League matches on the road, at Dynamo Kiev, Viktoria Plzen and Porto, so a first-leg stalemate could be on the cards in Naples.

Ilkay Gundogan to score or assist @ 2/1 with bet365

Barcelona’s recent Champions League woes mean their squad is uncharacteristically short of top-level experience, so midfielder Ilkay Gundogan will have a key role to play for Xavi’s side.

Gundogan was part of Manchester City’s treble-winning team last season, scoring a brilliant opener just 13 seconds into the FA Cup final against Manchester United.

The Germany international has also showcased his attacking talent for Barca, scoring five goals and supplying six assists in 22 starts in La Liga.

Gundogan also set up three goals in five starts in this term’s Champions League and he is worth backing to score or assist against a struggling Napoli defence on Wednesday.

Bet Builder – Both teams to score, a red card in the match & Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to have over 2.5 shots @ 17/2 with bet36

Both teams have scored in 14 of Barcelona’s last 16 matches in all competitions, including their 3-2 defeat in Antwerp on matchday six of the Champions League group stage.

Napoli have kept only one clean sheet in their last 11 Serie A home games so there should be goals at both ends in a feisty encounter at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Backing a red card to be shown in the match provides a significant boost to the Bet Builder odds. There have been five dismissals in Napoli’s last ten games in all competitions – four of them for Napoli players – while two of Barcelona’s last four matches have featured a sending-off.

With Nigeria striker Osimhen doubtful for Napoli, winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia shoulders plenty of attacking responsibility for the hosts.

The twinkle-toed Georgia international averages 3.6 shots per game in Serie A this season and had nine attempts in three home games in the Champions League group stage so he should be backed to rack up over 2.5 shots in the first leg.

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