Napoli Vs Barcelona
Napoli Vs Barcelona Thursday 24 February, 2022 – 20:00 (GMT)
UEFA Europa League
Pick: Draw
Odds: 12/5
Bookmaker: Betfair
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 22 February 2022)
Preview: Following their 1-1 draw at Camp Nou in the first leg, there is everything to play for as the sides reconvene in Naples with Napoli seeking to make home advantage count inside the Diego Armando Maradona versus Barcelona.
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Table of Contents
Napoli – Partenopei must be braver in Naples?
The Italian side, currently two points off the summit in Serie A having finished down in fifth last season, were outclassed in Spain last week and could consider themselves extremely fortunate to have escaped with a draw. Luciano Spalletti’s charges had taken a surprise first-half lead through midfielder Piotr Zielinski, but retreated thereafter. Only some profligacy on Barcelona’s part sparing them an aggregate deficit.
With one loss in ten prior home games against teams from Spain, though, the Partenopei will be quietly confident of progressing. Especially as history will be on their side in Naples. Napoli have progressed from all eight ties in which they drew the first leg away, four of these after a 1-1 scoreline. Recent home form has been patchy, however, with two wins in six (D2 L2) in all competitions at the Diego Armando Maradona.
Key Stat: Each of Napoli’s last three competitive matches have ended in a 1-1 draw, sandwiching the Camp Nou stalemate with Serie A draws against Inter Milan at home and Cagliari away.
Barcelona – Blaugrana out to atone for Camp Nou profligacy?
A dominant performance in Catalonia last Thursday went largely unrewarded as Barcelona converted just one of 21 shots on the Napoli goal – that a Ferran Torres penalty early in the second half – to draw the first leg 1-1. Fortunately this isn’t uncharted territory, progressing on five of eleven occasions in which they were held at home in the first leg; winning three of six such ties after a 1-1 draw as hosts.
Xavi will be thrilled his side didn’t dwell on last week’s outcome. Barca subsequently went and scored four in victory away at Valencia the following Sunday, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netting a hat-trick, to equal their longest unbeaten streak under the new manager (W3 D2). Goals have proven more elusive in Europe, though, scoring three across seven UEFA matches this term having yet to notch more than once.
Key Stat: Barcelona have scored two or more in five of their past seven matches in all competitions but are still to do so in European competition, mustering three goals across all seven UEFA fixtures in 2021-22 so far.
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Napoli Vs Barcelona Betting Advice
Will Barcelona – and, in particular, Ferran Torres – be left ruing what might have been in the Camp Nou? There was no doubt Xavi’s men were deserving of victory, but if you don’t put away your chances there can be no complaints should they fail to progress. Fortunately for them, though, Napoli’s record in two-legged ties versus Spanish opposition is rather wretched, with one win from eight losing each of the last six.
Napoli Vs Barcelona – Key Facts:
- Barcelona must wonder how they didn’t win the first encounter between the sides, creating more than four times as many shooting opportunities in a 1-1 draw.
- After drawing the first leg away from home, Napoli have gone on to qualify for the next round all eight times in UEFA competitions. Meanwhile, Barca have progressed on five of the eleven occasions in which they drew the first leg at home.
- Napoli have now drawn each of their last three matches 1-1. Meanwhile, Barcelona’s past four fixtures have seen both teams score at least once, as well as eight of their last nine.
Moreover, Napoli are vulnerable in Naples, believe it or not. Three of their four Serie A defeats this term were at this venue – though a W2 D1 L1 record as hosts versus Italy’s current top-six suggest they tend to raise their game against the better teams. Barca, meanwhile, have only lost one of eleven away matches under Xavi. That was to Bayern Munich. Nearly half were draws, though, which I feel is the most logical outcome here.
Best Betting Odds – Napoli Vs Barcelona
Napoli – 9/5 (BetVictor)
Draw – 12/5 (Betfair)
Barcelona – 31/20 (Coral)
