Three talking points ahead of Napoli vs Barcelona

At this stage in the season, Barcelona approach every game with a must-win attitude. Though indeed, the Catalans can barely afford to take any game lightly, the upcoming clash against Napoli seems to stand out in terms of importance.

Of the several competitions that the Blaugranas have taken part in this season, the UEFA Europa League is the only one where they stand a chance to win silverware. Real Madrid’s lead in La Liga is unsurmountable, and Barcelona have been eliminated from the Copa del Rey and Spanish Supercup.

Xavi has several decisions to take for the second leg game against Napoli, from personnel to tactics. Additionally, a tough game against Athletic Club on Sunday is another factor that could alter the manager’s decisions. Here are three talking points ahead of the second leg of Barcelona vs Napoli.

1. Only one road to take

Though every game is a must-win game in theory for Barcelona, one cannot deny that there is a difference in opinion from game to game. A slip-up in the league can be compensated by a good run after that or slip-ups by other teams. The same cannot be said about the Europa League.

Barcelona only managed a 1-1 draw against Napoli at Camp Nou last week. Despite their dominant display on the night, a combination of poor finishing and inaccuracies did not allow it to reflect on the scoreboard.

Heading to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, the equation is simple. The team that wins on the night progress to the next round while the team that loses are eliminated.

Given the tight margins in the game, there is no doubt that Napoli are the team with the advantage. The home support and presence of fans in the stadium provide the hosts with some advantages that Barcelona cannot complain about.

Needless to say, the new away rule game is another hurdle for Xavi’s side. With an away goal now carrying no additional weightage over one scored by the home team, Barcelona’s chances take a blow.

2. The return of the centre-back duo

Ronald Araujo and Gerard Pique have been Xavi’s go-to pairing at centre-back this season. However, the availability of both the players has not been regular in the past few weeks.

Pique was suspended for Barcelona’s win over Valencia owing to a red card he picked up during the derby. Now, he is back in the squad and set to return to the starting XI.

Araujo, on the other hand, suffered a muscular injury and missed the first leg against Napoli. The Uruguayan was expected to be rested for the game at Mestalla. Yet, Xavi personally asked Araujo to play the game and decided to give him a start.

Araujo completed the entire 90 minutes without discomfort and is set to return to the starting lineup on Friday. His return alongside Pique gives Barcelona’s chances a massive boost.

If Xavi opts for a three-man backline, Eric Garcia would be the first option to start alongside the duo. Needless to say, the chances of the manager changing the formation for one game seems low.

3. All eyes on the front three

In the first leg meeting between these two sides, Barcelona took a total of 21 shots. Only five of these were on target.

Ferran Torres came under intense criticism last week after mishitting seven of his eight shots on the night. While the Spanish winger did everything right from dribbling to passing and making runs, his finishing on the night was far from ideal. Even after scoring the penalty, his confidence in front of the goal did not improve.

If Barcelona had put their chances to bed, the tie could have been sorted in the first game. Now, the club need to earn it the hard way.

Xavi’s team delivered a near-perfect game from the forward point of view at Mestalla. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s hat-trick was the difference on the night as Barcelona trampled a helpless Valencia. Heading into the game at Naples, Xavi will hope that the team carries the form in front of the goal.

Aubameyang and Gavi are said to be guaranteed starters in Italy. However, Torres could be benched on the night for Adama Traore or Ousmane Dembele. It remains to be seen how Xavi opts to utilize his abundant resources in the must-win clash.