Barcelona vs Napoli predictions and odds: Champions League preview and tips

We have the three greatest Barcelona vs Napoli predictions as the Spanish giants look to safe their place within the Champions League quarter-finals

A creaking and unsettled Barcelona aspect face a difficult round-of-16 second-leg encounter towards Napoli on Saturday during which the Italians look able to giving the Spaniards a scare.

Barca come into the sport on the back of a 5-0 win of their final La Liga recreation but are nonetheless shaken by conceding the title to bitter rivals Real Madrid.

Napoli also won their last Serie A game 3-1 against Lazio however completed the season with an inconsistent run of three wins, two draws and two defeats from their final seven matches.

Barcelona vs Napoli predictions and betting tips

Napoli out to overcome fortress Nou Camp

Barca ended the domestic season empty-handed as they completed runners-up to Real Madrid in La Liga, were knocked out of the Copa del Rey bt Athletic Bilbao and lost within the Supercopa to Atlético Madrid. Quique Setién succeeded Ernesto Valverde in mid-season but failed to spark the Blaugrana into life and reviews recommend this might properly be his final recreation at the Nou Camp.

Could it also be Lionel Messi’s ultimate sport at Barcelona’s well-known house as well? Speculation is rife that the Argentine talisman is much from pleased with the current situation at the membership and all does not seem well behind the scenes in Catalonia.

Certainly performances on the pitch for the reason that season resumed have at times mirrored the sense of unrest they usually head into the conflict in opposition to Napoli having been overwhelmed by Osasuna in their most up-to-date home match. However, you want to return seven years and 35 matches for the final time they lost a Champions League recreation on the Nou Camp.

They are additionally unbeaten in 15 matches when internet hosting Italian opposition and Napoli certainly appear to face an uphill battle as they chase a first Champions League quarter-final spot.

Napoli have shown they’re up for the struggle although, matching Barcelona within the first leg, which finished 1-1, while they took 4 factors off Liverpool in the group levels. Head coach Gennaro Gattuso has actually instilled in his team the tenuous spirit he demonstrated so often as a player however inconsistencies dogged their domestic marketing campaign and they could only finish seventh in Serie A.

A record of seven wins from their last 19 Champions League outings doesn’t inspire confidence both, while having only every week to organize since the end of the home season could not help issues. However, ought to they show the levels of willpower they showed in drawing at Anfield or when profitable the Coppa Italia ultimate against Juventus this season then they will be a tough nut to crack and supply some worth with a +1 handicap.

Tip: Napoli +1 handicap result @

Brittle Barca might be exposed

Napoli are keeping their fingers crossed that Lorenzo Insigne will be passed fit for Saturday’s recreation after a thigh harm and will he be cleared to play then they’ve a entrance three who can definitely harm Barcelona. Insigne (12), Arkadiusz Milik (14) and Dries Mertens (16) are all into double figures for the season and Napoli have solely failed to score in eight Serie A and Champions League matches this season.

Barca have struggled for clean sheets in Europe this term with each teams to attain touchdown in 5 of their final six matches. Obviously their strengths lie on the other end of the field and, having registered in 22 of 24 home games this season, coupled with Napoli preserving solely three clean sheets in 18 away from residence, both teams should get on the scoresheet.

Tip: Both teams to attain @

Suarez can provide chopping edge

Unsurprisingly, having finished as La Liga’s high scorer for a fourth 12 months in a row, Messi leads the way within the goalscorer markets and it might be no shock to see him notch on Saturday. However, for those trying to find a bit extra worth, Luis Suarez is worth a take a look at 21/20 to attain at any time, whereas he’s 4/1 to score first or last.

It has been an injury-hit campaign for the Uruguayan, missing six months of motion in whole, but he nonetheless managed to finish the campaign with sixteen targets. Three of these got here in the Champions League and he ended the domestic campaign in glorious type. The 33-year-old has scored five times in his final seven outings and is fancied to bag again on Saturday.

Tip: Luis Suarez to score at any time @

Barcelona vs Napoli odds

Barcelona go into the match as the odds-on 8/13 favourites whereas Napoli are 17/4 to get a result at the Nou Camp and the draw can be backed at 16/5.

Last 5 results

19 Jul LL Alaves zero Barcelona 5 W

16 Jul LL Barcelona 1 Osasuna 2 L

11 Jul LL Valladolid 0 Barcelona 1 W

8 Jul LL Barcelona 1 Espanyol zero W

5 Jul LL Villarreal 1 Barcelona 4 W

1 Aug SA Napoli 3 Lazio 1 W

28 Jul SA Inter Milan 2 Napoli 0 L

25 Jul SA Napoli 2 Sassuolo zero W

22 Jul SA Parma 2 Napoli 1 L

19 Jul SA Napoli 2 Udinese 1 W

LL La Liga SA Serie A