𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐈𝐏𝐋 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 🏏👉
We gear up for a titanic tussle in the UEFA Champions League 2023-24 Round of 16. Napoli will square off against FC Barcelona in what promises to be an enthralling clash at the iconic Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
As we dive into the archives of their previous encounters, the narrative unfolds with Barcelona holding a commanding lead in the head-to-head statistics. With 8 meetings under their belt, Barcelona has emerged victorious 5 times, while Napoli has managed just 1 win, with 2 encounters ending in a stalemate.
Napoli, having secured the second spot in Group C, prepares to face the formidable challenge of Barcelona, who comfortably topped Group H. While Napoli's domestic campaign has faltered compared to their previous heights last season by winning the Scudetto, Barcelona finds themselves in a similar position, trailing by 10 points in La Liga.
The two sides boast a formidable attack with quality players who have done well in front of the goal in UCL competitions.
The betting tip is...
Over 2.5 goals will be scored in the match.
60 %
40 %
The return of Victor Osimhen from the AFCON finals for Nigeria provides a significant boost. Osimhen, a pivotal figure for Napoli throughout the season, has notched up an impressive tally of 8 goals and 2 assists, making him a potent attacking force. In his absence, Matteo Politano admirably stepped up, contributing 7 goals and 3 assists.
In goal, Meret's presence with 53 saves and a commendable 1.9 saves per goal stands out, although our prediction leans towards Gollini getting the nod, given his recent starts. Defensive solidity comes from Di Lorenzo and Ostigard, each capable of posing a threat from set-pieces with a goal apiece.
Furthermore, keep a keen eye on Kvaratskhelia, a star for Napoli, whose partnership with Osimhen has yielded dividends in recent seasons. His creativity and flair could prove decisive in Napoli's quest for victory.
Anguissa and Osimhen are back. Gollini to start over Meret who has injured his hamstring.
Predicted Lineup: Gollini, Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Juan, Rui, Anguissa, Lobotka, Cajuste, Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
Looking ahead to Barcelona's team news, the Catalans face some setbacks with several key players sidelined due to injuries. Felix, Torres, and Roberto are among those nursing injuries, while Gavi's absence for the remainder of the season is a significant blow.
However, Barcelona boasts considerable firepower upfront, led by the prolific Robert Lewandowski, who poses a formidable threat with an impressive tally of 15 goals and 5 assists this season. Alongside him, Torres has also been instrumental, contributing 11 goals and 3 assists, adding to Barcelona's attacking arsenal.
Cancelo and Raphinha have been standout performers in previous UCL matches, registering a combined total of 9 shots on target. Adding to the attacking prowess is Gundogan, who has notched up 5 goals and provided 6 assists this season, further enhancing Barcelona's offensive capabilities.
Both Pedri and Torres to start.
Predicted Lineup: Ter Stegen, Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Cancelo, de Jong, Gundogan, Pedri, Yamal, Lewandowski, Ferran Torres
In what promises to be a captivating showdown, the battle lines are drawn between Napoli's Osimhen and Barcelona's Lewandowski, as well as Torres and Kvaratskhelia, each aiming to make their mark by finding the back of the net for their respective teams.
Considering recent defensive displays, Napoli may encounter challenges in breaching Barcelona's backline. However, based on their attacking prowess and Barcelona's defensive vulnerabilities in recent matches, we predict Napoli to find the back of the net at least once.
Barcelona will not find it difficult to score with Lewandowski up front. His poacher instincts will make a part of the scoresheet in all likeliness. We predict the match to be won by Barca.