Barcelona vs Napoli Prediction 12.03.2024

• Competition: Champions League
• Date: 13.03.2024
• Kickoff: 20:00 UTC / 21:00 CET
• Venue: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (Barcelona)

One of the most interesting duels in the 1/8 finals of the Champions League. Barcelona and Napoli are two teams closely linked by the fact that Diego Armando Maradona played for them. The first match in Naples about 20 days ago ended 1-1 and that result certainly leaves room for both teams to hope for a place in the 1/4 finals.

In the meantime, Barcelona had a couple of great sequences in LaLiga, beating Mallorca and Getafe without conceding a goal. Athletic Bilbao was a tough nut to crack in the Basque Country, so that match remained goalless. Barcelona have the experience of eliminating Napoli from the European Cups and they have done it twice in the previous 3 years.

Napoli played 4 matches in Serie A after leg 1 against Barcelona. In that period, they achieved 2 wins and 2 draws, so placement in European competitions is still hanging in the balance for them. Napoli is in 7th place and the position that leads to the Champions League next season seems very far and difficult to achieve

Barcelona vs Napoli pick: UNDER 2.5 GOALS

The very mention that this is a rematch and that the first match ended 1-1 suggests that we will see a duel in which both teams will start very cautiously. As many as 3 out of 5 previous direct duels ended with the aforementioned result. Barcelona finished the previous 3 matches with a clean sheet and their defense is gaining more and more confidence. Napoli conceded at least a goal in each of the previous 4 Serie A matches, but they were quite efficient.

We expect 0 or 1 goal at the end of the half and no more than 2 goals at the end of the match. It could very easily happen that we see extra time and even a penalty shootout. Barcelona has primacy when it comes to direct knockout duels, but Napoli is an experienced and quality team ready for such strong duels.