Champions League: All Not Well in Dugouts as Diego’s Favourites Prepares to Clash

Napoli vs Barcelona

Champions League action returns to the footballing hotbed of Naples on Wednesday night.

With Napoli’s hopes of retaining the Serie A title long gone and Barcelona well off the pace in La Liga, European glory remains the only remaining chance of silverware for both clubs this term.

So, if further incentive was needed (and it probably isn’t given this is a clash between the reigning Italian and Spanish champions), that scenario could well lead to further Champions League 2024 highlights this week.

Talking Points

Initially, the focus could be as much on the dugouts as the pitch.

That’s after Slovakian Francesco Calzona was brought in on a short-term contract on Monday to replace the sacked Walter Mazzarri to become Napoli’s third manager this season.

All this after Sky Sport Italia suggested Mazzarri was expected to oversee a training session on Monday afternoon.

Mazzarri’s position had come under increased scrutiny following a 1-1 draw against Genoa on Saturday, a point they eventually secured thanks to a late Cyril Ngonge goal.

Following the dismissal of Rudi Garcia in November, the arrival of Mazzarri did not lead to an upturn in form, with the coach managing just six wins across his 17 games in charge.

Oh, how they must yearn for title-winning Luciano Spalletti without all the baggage and speculation.

The managerial hot seat has not been without complications for Barca either and last month it was announced that Xavi Hernández will leave the Nou Camp at the end of the season with his side struggling to replicate the form that made them Spanish champions.

They currently sit in third place in La Liga after securing a very late 2-1 victory at Celta Vigo as Robert Lewandowski kept his cool to convert a retaken 97^th minute penalty.

The Poland striker had actually put them ahead with a powerful angled drive before Iago Aspas levelled for Celta, who are fourth bottom of La Liga. Lewandowski, who clinched victory from the spot, was a key recruit for Xavi in the summer of 2022.

It’s not yet known who will replace a boss who guided them to the Spanish title by a clear 10 points last season.

Eleven out of their 28 league victories were 1-0 wins and financial difficulties meant he could not reinforce the team how he wanted.

These days, those who know him well, say Xavi feels isolated. He lost authority when directors Mateo Alemany and Jordi Cruyff, allies with whom he had a very good relationship, were taken away from him in the summer.

He will depart himself in four months’ time, as likely will Calzona.

For now, though, the focus is all about progress in Europe.

History

Two of Diego Maradona’s former clubs meet at the stadium that now bears his name. The clubs have met in two previous knockout ties, in the 2020 Champions League last 16 and the 2022 Europa League play-offs, with Barcelona progressing on both occasions.

In the first leg of the former, Dries Mertens opened the scoring with his 121st goal for Napoli, moving him level with Marek Hamšík as the club’s all-time leading marksman, but was later forced off through injury.

Antoine Griezmann then turned in Nélson Semedo’s cross for Barcelona’s equaliser. That was their first official clash.

The Spanish side prevailed 4-2 on aggregate after first-half goals from Clément Lenglet, Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez (penalty). Lorenzo Insigne’s spot-kick was all Napoli could muster in response.

The first leg between the teams in the 2022 Europa League knockout round play-offs also finished 1-1.

That game was in Spain where a 59^th minute Ferran Torres penalty earned the home side a draw after Piotr Zieliński’s first-half opener for Napoli.

Early strikes from Jordi Alba and Frenkie de Jong gave Barcelona the advantage in Naples and, though Insigne halved Napoli’s deficit from the penalty spot, further goals from Gerard Piqué and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang effectively settled the contest before Matteo Politano netted an 87^th minute consolation.

Betting Tip

I was rather surprised when I saw that Napoli were slight favourites with the SBOTOP Champions 2024 League betting odds.

The Italians are priced 1X2 @ 2.50 with Barcelona 1X2 @ 2.54.

It’s just as close with Asian Handicap betting odds with the hosts priced 0.00 @ 1.94 and Barca 0.00 @ 1.96.

Other options include Napoli -0.25 @ 2.33 and Barcelona -0.25 @ 2.25 so a slight switch there in favour of the Catalonians.

A re-run of their most recent meeting, in Europe’s second tier, is available @ with Correct Score 2-4 @ 80.00.

If there’s to be goals aplenty again then how about Over 3.00 @ 2.25 or Total Goals 4-6 @ 2.96, compared to 0-1 @ 3.82 and 2-3 @ 1.95. I think Barcelona will prevail over two legs, but I think it will be honours even in this first leg.

 

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