Barcelona vs Napoli tips and predictions: Little to separate domestic strugglers

Barcelona and Napoli will meet at the Estadio Olimpico with their Champions League tie hanging in the balance after a 1-1 draw in Naples.

The Catalans are unbeaten in eight matches at home after beating Mallorca at the weekend and will prioritise this competition.

Xavi is set to leave Barca at the end of the season but it could happen sooner if the Blaugrana fail to progress.

Their task will be made harder by a worsening injury crisis. Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Gavi, Marcos Alonso and Ferran Torres are ruled out while Raphinha is a doubt.

Napoli are also having an underwhelming domestic season and will be pinning their hopes of success on progressing in the UCL.

They have improved to go unbeaten in their last six matches but they’ve struggled to win games away from home.

Before hitting Sassuolo for six in Serie A, Napoli failed to score in five of their previous six away matches which spells trouble here.

They’ve also recorded just one win in their last eight away games but, notably, they haven’t looked out of their depth in this competition.

Real Madrid needed a pair of late goals to beat them and new head coach Francesco Calzona is getting the best out of Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskheila,

 

Key stats

- Barcelona are unbeaten in seven matches against Napoli
- Barcelona are unbeaten in eight matches
- Napoli have failed to score in five of seven away games
- Napoli have won one of eight away games

 

Suggested bets

Napoli +1 Asian handicap

Both teams to score: No

Under 2.5 goals

• Sergiu Baltuta provides tips as SVB Tips on Tipstrr