Barcelona vs Napoli 09/08/20

09 August 2020

Unbeaten at home in the Champions League since September 2013, Barcelona will be confident of overcoming Napoli at Camp Nou after being held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Barcelona enter this clash on a run of 35 Champions League home matches without a loss (W31, D4), having won two of three home matches in this season’s group stage despite a -1 handicap (D1). Additionally, the hosts boast an intimidating home record versus the Italian opponents in UEFA competitions (W18, D6, L2) and have won 12 of their last 15 home clashes against the Serie A visitors (D3). Also, the Catalan giants have failed to win just two of their previous 14 home fixtures in the Champions League knockout rounds (D2) and have progressed to the next knockout stage in 21 of the 26 two-legged ties in which they drew the first leg away from home. But, Napoli’s visit could stir painful memories, as the ‘Blaugrana’ have lost both of their previous Champions League ties against the Italian clubs.

Meanwhile, Napoli have yet to taste defeat in Europe’s elite competition this season, having finished runners-up to Liverpool in Group E (W3, D3) before drawing with Barca in Naples. However, the ‘Partenopei’ have run out winners in just seven of their last 21 Champions League fixtures (D7, L7), qualifying excluded. Furthermore, they have lost five of six two-legged ties versus the Spanish outfits (W1), including the last four. Curiously, none of Napoli’s previous seven trips to Spain has ended in a draw (W2, D5), with losses in the last three. It will be a daunting prospect for Gennaro Gattuso’s side to fight their way into the quarter-finals as they have failed to qualify for the next knockout round in all five of their previous UEFA ties in which they drew the first leg on home turf.