Read our prediction for Napoli vs Barcelona below. This preview was written by a sport journalist who is specialised in betting tips and predictions. Use our betting tips for the match between Napoli vs Barcelona and you can increase your winnings!
Napoli vs Barcelona Prediction & Betting tips
When the round of 16 matches in the UEFA Champions League were drawn in December last year, FC Barcelona could certainly live quite well with the ‘SSC Napoli’ lottery. The “Partenopei” was at the time in Serie A in a real crisis of meaning, but could certainly cause a sensation on the international stage.
Just over two months later, the Neapolitans, led by Gennaro Gattuso, also found their way back on the national level. Four of the most recent five matches in the league have been victorious; in addition, the footballers from the foot of Vesuvius have a good chance of reaching the final in Coppa Italia. Consequently, the Naples vs. Barcelona odds of the best bookmakers on home success have dropped somewhat.
On the opposite side, however, FC Barcelona is undoubtedly a world-class opponent who has also recently put two taps in time for the restart of the premier class. The football performance still does not necessarily meet the high expectations of those responsible, but there is hardly anything to complain about, at least with regard to the results.
However, because the “Blaugrana” has not won eight European games in Italy in the meantime and has also been having an extremely difficult time away, especially in the knockout phase, we would make a prediction for the first leg between Naples and Barcelona Setien-Elf retire.
Instead, we devote ourselves to the Tor market and predict an encounter in which a maximum of two hits will be scored. You can find out how you can increase the likelihood of sustainable profit through over / under betting in our following linked guide article “Long-term success through over / under”.
Napoli:
Gennaro Gattuso has been in charge of the SSC Napoli since December 11th. While his era at the foot of Vesuvius started with three defeats from the first four competitive games, it was anything but good, but the former Italian international managed to turn things around in 2020.
The “Partenopei” won seven of the past nine matches at national level. Among other things, the 2006 world champion led the incumbent runner-up thanks to victories against Perugia and Lazio Rome into the semi-finals of Coppa Italia, where the first leg at Inter Milan was also won 1-0.
In the league, the “Azzurri” jumped to sixth place due to the 2-1 win from last Friday in Brescia and have the renewed qualification for international business firmly in view. The mood in the Campanian capital is currently really good and the anticipation for the top class highlight on Tuesday is huge.
Despite the more than neat form, Naples remains a clear underdog against Barcelona according to the odds on the “to qualify market”. You can find further information for potential tips on David against Goliath in our analysis “Why are outsider bets attractive?”
How inconvenient the Italians are to play in front of their own fans has already experienced the incumbent title holder from Liverpool this season. The “Reds” lost 0-2 in the group stage at San Paolo. Overall, the record in front of their home crowd with only six wins from twelve games in the premier class is average at best.
To make matters worse, the light blue in the most important European club competition never reached the round of 16. In two out of six participations, the Neapolitans made it into the round of the last 16, but failed there in both 2012 and 2017 due to the eventual winner. Three years ago at Real Madrid and previously at Chelsea FC.
We assume that the home side will choose a cautious approach. Although the team has enormous potential on the offensive, it was Gattuso’s ultimate goal to get more stability on the defensive. Two “zero wins” from the most recent three matches as well as a 1-0 win over Lazio Rome or a 2-1 win over Juventus at the end of January underline the thesis that he succeeded.
Defense chief Kalidou Koulibaly’s loss continues to be serious. In addition, Kevin Malcuit definitely fails after a cruciate ligament tear. Otherwise Gattuso can draw from the full. Quite possible that on Tuesday he will have the same starting line-up as last Friday in Brescia. Potential options from the bank would be Callejon, Milik or Zielinski.
Barcelona:
Just in time for the first knockout round in the UEFA Champions League, the incumbent Spanish champions have taken the lead in La Liga again. The “Blaugrana” won 5-0 against Eibar at the weekend and ultimately benefited from Real Madrid’s defeat at Levante.
Before Sunday’s big showdown at “El Clásico” comes, Lionel Messi and his colleagues in Italy want to set the course for the quarter-finals of the premier class. If you are interested in the eternal duel between the two Spanish giants in advance, we recommend our “Derby Guide”.
Although Barcelona is still listed as one of the top favorites on the handle pot by the reputable bookmakers in Germany, many experts are now skeptical whether the team under Quique Setien is actually able to receive the trophy for the first time since 2015.
The fact that the Red-Blue have won just six of the past 16 European away games speaks against it. The record is even more dramatic in knockout games, because there the Catalans have only celebrated one success in their recent eight appearances abroad. Five guest appearances were lost (two draws).
In view of this, it is a little surprising that the odds are quite clearly in favor of the Spanish league leaders before the duel between Naples and Barcelona. However, the betting providers may also have been guided by other statistics, because Barca has always made the leap into the next round in the past twelve round of 16 matches.
Although the team, led by the new coach Quique Setien, won seven of the previous nine games, until Saturday’s 5-0 win against Eibar, the team did not necessarily have the impression that the team had already internalized the coach’s impulses. Five of the seven successes, for example, were only one goal different.
Because Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez, two regular attackers, are injured and Sergi Roberto and Jordi Alaba will also be unavailable on Tuesday, a prediction of a fairly close match between Naples and Barcelona seems obvious. It will be interesting to see whether Setien lets his youngster Ansu Fati off the leash or relies on the experienced Vidal on the left offensive side.
Napoli vs Barcelona head to head matches
10.08.19 CF Napoli Barcelona 0 : 4
08.08.19 CF Barcelona Napoli 2 : 1
06.08.14 CF Napoli Barcelona 1 : 0
22.08.11 CF Barcelona Napoli 5 : 0