Napoli vs Barcelona prediction, odds and preview

Napoli will welcome Barcelona to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday night in their first-leg UEFA Champions League tie.

It will be a repetition of the 2019/2020 Round of 16 clash which saw Barcelona win 4-2 on aggregate.

The most recent meeting between the two sides saw the Blaugrana beat Napoli 4-2 in the playoff round of the 2021-22 Europa League.

However, the Catalans will head to Italy having won only one in 10 on their travels in the Champions League knockout stages over recent years, scoring just four goals and blanking in six matches in the period.

Napoli approach this game off a 1-1 draw with Genoa in Serie A. The most interesting dynamic for the hosts is the introduction of a new manager Francesco Calzona following the sacking of Walter Mazzarri.

Barcelona on the other hand were boosted in confidence ahead of this clash with a 2-1 win at Balaidos over Celta Vigo thanks to a Robert Lewandowski brace, and the Catalan side will hope they can get a favorable result ahead of the second leg in Spain.

Victor Osimhen is expected to be joined by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in attack for the hosts in this game.

Meanwhile, Joào Felix could come off the bench to play a part in this game for the visitors upon his return from an ankle injury.