Heads or tails for Barcelona in Naples

Barcelona will play a real final this Thursday at the Diego Armanda Maradona Stadium. The team led by Xavi faces Napoli with a spirit of revenge after the opportunity they missed a week ago at the Camp Nou. The culés were superior and enjoyed countless occasions, but the lack of aim deprived them of an advantage to travel to Italy. The objective now is to make amends in one of the most complicated fields of the Europa League, a real emotional boost on the way to the final that will be played at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.

“It will be a battle of who has the ball and possession. It is Europe and it is difficult. Napoli have Champions level, but it is a good test to check that Barça can compete. We are hopeful and we are excited, “said Xavi at the press conference prior to the clash. The Catalan coach knows that he is playing one of the most important games since he took control of the Barça ship. The Europa League is the most important way to a title this year and one more to be in the Champions League next year. That is what Barça is playing for in Naples.

Xavi’s team reaches the commitment in Italy with renewed air. The punctures against Espanyol and Napoles were left behind last Sunday with a weighty victory in an always complicated field like Mestalla. Barça recovered the goal it lacked in the Europa League against José Bordalás’ men and the claw it lacked in the Catalan derby to maintain the lead on the scoreboard. The sum of these two things will be the key to survival in a Diego Armando Maradona who, under the name of San Paolo and with Pelusa on the pitch, already knows what it means to win the second continental competition and who now wants to revive old laurels.

For that final, Xavi will be able to count on his starting partner as central defenders. Ronald Araujo returns to the squad after overcoming his physical problems and Gerard Piqué returns after serving his suspension in the League last weekend against Valencia. Both will start in a team in which Sergi Roberto, Lenglet, Umtiti, Balde, Ansu Fati and Memphis Depay will not be able to be due to injury, and in which a Dani Alves will not be either, who was left out of the competition due to a technical decision by not be able to register all the players incorporated in the winter market. With all these absences in mind, Xavi will recover Pedri for the cause after his initial break in Mestalla. The canary will form alongside Busquets and Frenkie de Jong in midfield. Up front he will have Gavi, Aubameyang and the speed of Adama Traoré, who was very active in the first leg at the Camp Nou.

hard stumbling block

It will not be an easy game for Barcelona. Napoli survived a real siege at the Camp Nou and now, in front of their fans, they will seek to bring out their best version in a competition in which they have high hopes of winning a title this season. Luciano Spalletti’s men are a solid team, the least scored in all of Serie A, but the latest results have punctured a balloon that was already flying all over southern Italy. The Partenopeos let Inter escape alive two days ago and, after the draw in the Europa League against Barça, they could not get past the tables last weekend against Cagliari in a clash that could have placed them as co-leaders of the Series Along with Milan.

For this match, Spalletti will have to recompose the group in the face of the many casualties that plague the team. The Italian coach will be without Insigne, Lobotka, Lozano, Malcuit, Anguissa and Tuanzebe due to injury. All these absences will condition an eleven in which Fabián Ruiz will once again lead the baton and in which Mertens and Elmas could act as Osimhen’s companions at the point of attack.