Prediction: Napoli vs Barcelona

Verdict: 4/6

Best Odds: Both teams to score

Bookmaker: Unibet

With a spot in the quarter-finals of this year’s Europa League firmly hanging in the balance, Napoli will welcome Barcelona to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Thursday night.

Napoli

Starting with the hosts, while Napoli might still find themselves battling it out in this year’s Serie A title chase, the Italian giants once again missed a chance earlier in the week. Having to come from behind away at relegation scrappers Cagliari on Monday evening and settling for a point on the road, Head Coach Luciano Spalletti has seen his side play out a 1-1 draw in each of their last three matchups across all formats. Throwing away the lead at the Nou Camp seven days ago and knowing that they should face another stern test here, Gli Azzurri have also shown some extended issues on home soil this season. Including an action-packed 5-2 defeat at the hands of Fiorentina on Coppa Italia duties last month, Thursday’s hosts have managed to win just a pair of their previous six matchups at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, a run that stems back to December 9th.

Team News

Potentially dealing with an injury headache on Thursday night, Napoli could be without the likes of Matteo Politano, Hirving Lozano, Lorenzo Insigne, Stanislav Lobotka and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa here.

Likewise, coming off with a head injury earlier in the week, defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo is a major doubt.

Barcelona

As for the visitors, mounting a comeback at home against Napoli last week, there is no doubt that Barcelona picked up some perfect momentum last time out. Putting on a rampant display on the road and cruising their way to a 4-1 romp away at Valencia, Head Coach Xavi will be desperate for his side to build off of that display here. In their own battle to clinch a top-four finish in La Liga this season, the former European champions will now be hoping to find some resolve at the back. While January arrival Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang might have bagged himself a hat-trick at the Mestalla seven days ago, Thursday’s guests have managed to record just a single clean sheet in any of their previous nine matchups across all formats, a run that stems back to January 2nd. Still left frustrated to have seen their Champions League adventure come to a shock end last year, Barcelona will be desperate to lay down a marker here.

Team News

Still dealing with long-term injury issues, Barcelona will once again be without the likes of Samuel Umtiti, Ansu Fati, Alejandro Balde and Sergi Roberto here.

However, returning to training earlier in the week, Dutch striker Memphis Depay could make his return to Xavi’s squad on Thursday night.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides met at the Nou Camp last week, Thursday’s opponents played out a 1-1 draw.
• Likewise, each of Napoli’s last three matchups across all formats have finished in a 1-1 scoreline.
• Five of Barcelona’s last six matchups on the road have finished with both teams finding the net.
• Napoli have managed to win just a pair of their last six matchups on home soil, a run that stems back to December 9th.
• Barcelona have lost just one of their previous nine fixtures away from the Nou Camp, a run that goes back to their 3-0 loss against Bayern Munich in December.

Conclusion

With both sides having to settle for a 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp seven days ago, neutrals from across Europe will be hoping for another lively display on Thursday night. In a real showdown between two European giants in midweek, we’re once again expecting chances to come at both ends of the pitch here. Storming their way to an eye-catching 4-1 win away at Valencia on La Liga duties last weekend, Xavi’s side will be looking to lay down another marker outside of Catalonia. Given Napoli’s extended inconsistencies at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, we should be in for another treat in midweek. With each of the last three meetings between the European contenders finishing with both teams finding the net, we’re backing a similar outcome once again.

Verdict: 4/6

Best Odds: Both teams to score

Bookmaker: Unibet