Barcelona Vs Napoli
Barcelona Vs Napoli Thursday 17 February, 2022 – 17:45 (GMT)
UEFA Europa League
Pick: Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score
Odds: Evens
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 14 February 2022)
Preview: In a repeat of their Champions League last-sixteen tussle from two seasons ago, Barcelona welcome Napoli to the Camp Nou with the Spanish side no doubt keen on producing a repeat of their 3-1 triumph from August 2020.
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Table of Contents
Barcelona – Blaugrana on redemption mission?
Having never previously got their hands on the trophy in its former guise, the UEFA Cup, Barcelona begin their quest for Europa League glory against the team they ousted from the Champions League at the round of 16 juncture in 2019/20. Much has changed in the intervening period. The Calatans are no longer the force of old and, under former midfield great Xavi Hernandez, are firmly in the midst of a transition.
The Calatans were demoted after finishing third in their Champions League section, behind Bayern Munich and Benfica having failed to muster a single goal versus either. Xavi has since overseen an improvement in results, but not drastically so. After drawing 2-2 away to local rivals Espanyol on Sunday they remain unbeaten since December (W5 D7) but winless inside 90 minutes in four of the past six (D4).
Key Stats: Both teams have scored in six of the last seven Barcelona matches, with four of the last five seeing a minimum of four goals.
Napoli – More pain in Spain?
Unlike upcoming opponents Barca, who grace this competition for the very first time, Napoli find themselves in familiar surroundings as they gear up for a record-equalling ninth appearance in the Europa League knockout rounds. They will be determined to avoid a repeat of last season, however, when another tournament debutant – Barca’s La Liga counterparts Granada – ousted them at this same stage.
That defeat over two legs brought their record in two-legged ties versus La Liga sides to W1 L7. A 2-0 loss in Spain making it their third successive defeat away from home in the Europa League knockouts by a two-goal margin. All rather ominous therefore. Especially having succumbed 3-1 at Camp Nou in August 2020. On a lighter note, the Partenopei do bring a seven-match unbeaten run inside 90 minutes to Catalonia.
Key Stat: Napoli could only finish second in Group C of this season’s Europa League, winning three of six matches (D1 L2). All six games saw Over 2.5 Goals land, while five featured both teams scoring.
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Barcelona Vs Napoli Betting Advice
Barca remain a work in progress under Xavi. This was laid bare at the weekend, in which Luuk de Jong’s late effort salvaged a point in the Barcelona derby. That made it one clean sheet in seven, having won only twice in the last six (D4; excluding extra-time outcomes). At their current odds, then, the hosts look solid laying material against a Napoli side well-versed in this competition.
- W19 D5 L3 is how Barcelona’s record at home to Italian opponents stands ahead of facing a Napoli team beaten 3-1 at Camp Nou in August 2020.
- That aforementioned defeat was among seven sustained in Spain by Napoli across ten visits to these shorts (W3). Most recent of all being their 2-0 reverse to Granada in last season’s Europa League round of 32.
- Barcelona could only manage two goals – both in wins over Dynamo Kiev – in this season’s UCL group stage. However, all six of Napoli’s UEL group stage matches featured Over 2.5 Goals while only one didn’t produce both teams scoring.
Taking into account Barcelona’s propensity for shipping goals, there is every chance we could be treated to a high-scoring contest at Camp Nou. These teams met here fairly recently as well, a 3-1 win for the hosts in the 2019/20 UCL last eight. Furthermore, Napoli – who held Inter Milan at the weekend to extend their unbeaten streak to four (W3 D1) – saw all six group stage matches feature at least three goals.
Best Betting Odds – Barcelona Vs Napoli
Barcelona – 10/11 (Coral)
Draw – 13/5 (Betfair)
Napoli – 3/1 (PaddyPower)
