Napoli vs Barcelona Prediction & Betting Tips - Champions League

Prediction published on 21/02/2020, 07:54  by James | Modified on 21/02/2020 at 08:54 in Champions League Predictions

A historic fixture takes place in the Champions League this week when Napoli dukes it out with Barcelona for the first time in a competitive UEFA match. The first leg of what some may call The Diego Maradona Derby takes place at the Stadio San Paolo in the south of Italy on Tuesday. The Champions League has been a silver lining in an otherwise dismal cloud of a season for Napoli. After finishing second in Serie A last season, it was expected that they would challenge Juventus for the title again. Instead, they faltered in the league and Carlo Ancelotti lost his job as manager despite progression to the last 16. Gennaro Gattuso struggled to change results immediately, losing four of his first five league matches. However, in recent weeks there have been signs of improvement with a win against Juventus being one of three wins from their last four league matches. Couple that big result with their triumph against Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia and there is reason enough to believe that an upset could be on the cards.

Barcelona travel to Italy in a semi-state of crisis. The furore about Eric Abidal's criticism of the players dying down, a story came out that the club president Bartomeu had allegedly hired a social media company to further criticise the players in order to help him deflect in the upcoming election. Lionel Messi is said to be unhappy about the way that the club is being run. Enduring one of his worst seasons in front of goal, the Argentine genius is carrying the team more than ever with Suarez and Dembele injured. Their domestic form has not been great (two defeats in their last six outings) and they struggle away from home in Europe. Astonishingly, Barca have failed to win seven of their last eight away knockout games in the UCL. We suggest backing Napoli draw no bet.