Although Barcelona’s season hasn’t been ideal, Barca can start to make up for it on Wednesday when the La Liga squad heads to the Diego Armando Maradona in Italy to take on Serie A team Napoli. Barca is the +160 slight dog to Napoli at +155. Will a team win this matchup in regulation. Are we looking at a first leg draw?

Nitrobetting shares the latest news, soccer odds, and special features throughout the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League season. Let’s get a closer look at the upcoming Napoli vs. Barcelona face-off in this preview.

Napoli vs. Barcelona 2024 Champions League Round of 16 Leg 1 Info

Our best goals vs Napoli pic.twitter.com/WXM4VXL64X

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 19, 2024

• When: Wednesday, February 21 at 3:00 pm ET
• Where: Diego Armando Maradona, Napoli, Italy
• TV: CBS
• Live Stream: Paramount+
• Soccer Odds: Napoli (+160) / Barcelona (+155) / Draw (+240)

Why is Napoli a safe bet to win?

Although Napoli has just a single victory in their last 5, there is a lot to like about the Napoleons’ form. Napoli beat a decent team in Hellas Verona 2-1.

Almost as important is the 0-0 draw versus Lazio and the 1-goal losses to Inter Milan and AC Milan. Losing by a single goal to AC and Inter is a victory considering how well both squads are playing. Napoli gets Barça on their pitch. That’s another advantage.

Possible Line-Up

• Gollini
• Rrahmani
• Jesus
• Ostigard
• Zielinski
• Zambo Anguissa
• Lobotka
• Mazzochi
• Di Lorenzo
• Simeone
• Kvaratskhelia

Napoli’s Last 5

• Win: 1-1 vs Genoa
• Loss:1-0 vs AC Milan
• Win: 2-1 vs Hellas Verona
• Draw: 0-0 vs Lazio
• Loss: 0-1 vs Internazionale

Why is Barcelona a safe bet to win?

Things haven’t been easy for Barcelona this season. But Barça’s season may be on the upswing.

Heading into this first leg, Barcelona has won 3-of-4 with a draw. The draw came versus decent club Granada. The wins were versus Osasuna, Alaves, and Celta Vigo. Not only that, but on paper, Barcelona wins this.

Possible Line-Up

• ter Stegen
• Curbarsi
• Araujo
• Cancelo
• Kounde
• Christensen
• Pedri
• de Jong
• Lewandowski
• Roque
• Yamal

Barcelona’s Last 5

• Win: 1-2 vs. Celta Vigo
• Draw: 3-3 vs. Granada
• Win: 1-3 vs. Alaves
• Win: 1-0 vs. Osasuna
• Loss: 3-5 vs. Villarreal

Napoli vs. Barcelona Betting Prediction

Napoli is catching Barcelona when the La Liga team is playing their best soccer of the season. Barca isn’t dominating quality opponents, but it appears the teams has coalesced around Lewandowski and de Jong.

Roque, Yamal, Pedri, Christensen, and Kounde appear to be on the same page, which is why Barcelona has begun to play like its old self. Napoli is a great defensive team. So Barça won’t win by more than a goal. 1 goal, though, will suffice.

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