Napoli were undone by a late Ferran Torres’ penalty for Barcelona in the first leg of the Europa League playoffs. Now, the Partenopei host Barcelona at the Stadio Diego Maradona with the tie level at one goal apiece.
Barcelona go into the second leg of the Europa League playoff on a 12-match undefeated streak. The Blaugrana claimed a 4-1 win over Valencia at the weekend courtesy of a hat-trick from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
🎩 Magical touch pic.twitter.com/lztkvntCTD— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 22, 2022
🎩 Magical touch pic.twitter.com/lztkvntCTD
Napoli missed the chance to move to the top of Serie A after suffering a 1-1 draw away to Cagliari. The Partenopei’s last three matches in all competitions finished as 1-1 draws.
Coach Luciano Spalletti has a number of injuries to contend with going into the second leg. Eight players are now on Spalletti’s injury list at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Defenders Kevin Malcuit and Axel Tuanzebe are both ruled out of the match due injury.
Defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo is a major doubt after suffering a concussion. Captain Lorenzo Insigne has a thigh injury and won’t be available until mid-March. Spalletti’s issues continue with the absences of Hirving Lozano, Matteo Politano, Andre Anguissa, and Stanislav Lobotka.
Xavi is hoping Aubameyang is able to find the back of the net once more. The striker scored his first goal with Barcelona at the weekend – three in fact – in his fourth match in all competitions with the club.
Barcelona forwards Ansu Fati and Memphis Depay are both ruled out of the game. Fati has a hamstring injury and Depay – who just came back from injury – is suffering from another hamstring problem.
Reports this week indicate Depay could seek to terminate his Barcelona contract after feeling undervalued at the club with the arrival of Aubameyang. Xavi will also be without Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti.
Napoli and Barcelona have met three times since 2020 in European competition. Barcelona are undefeated in all three of those games, but two of the matches ended in draws. Both draws finished 1-1.
Barcelona will have the upper hand due to the number of key players set to miss the game for Napoli. However, Napoli will benefit from playing at home. Napoli have a home record of 10W-3D-4L in all competitions. They have scored 33 goals and conceded 16 at home.
The Blaugrana have an away record of 6W-8D-4L in all competitions with 24 goals scored and 24 conceded. Like three of the last four games between these sides, Thursday’s Europa League playoff second leg should finish in a 1-1 draw.
Napoli and Barcelona will need extra-time and possibly penalties to determine which side progresses to the round of 16 proper.