Barcelona’s Champions League last-16 second leg tie at dwelling to Napoli might be their most necessary recreation of the season, supervisor Xavi Hernandez stated on Monday.
The primary leg was 1-1 and Barca on Tuesday have an opportunity to achieve the quarter-finals for the primary time since 2020 after failing to get previous the group stage previously two seasons.
The final time they gained a Champions League knockout recreation was in a 3-1 dwelling win over Napoli in 2020. With the membership third in LaLiga, eight factors behind leaders Actual Madrid, Europe is now the precedence.
“A very powerful recreation of the season? Sure, it’s, and we’re prepared, we’re excited,” Xavi advised a press convention.
“It’s been 4 years since we’ve been within the quarter-finals and that’s how we see it, we wish to compete in opposition to an opponent who, though they don’t seem to be going by way of the perfect second, have the bottom of the (2023) Scudetto champion.”
Barca’s title defence seems prone to finish in failure, whereas Napoli’s is already over, with the Serie A champions seventh within the standings and 31 factors adrift of leaders Inter Milan.
Francesco Calzona took over in February, Napoli’s third supervisor this season, and they’re undefeated of their 5 video games since then.
“Napoli have improved with the brand new coach, who’s extra dynamic and comfy,” Xavi stated.
“I anticipate a courageous Napoli that performs from the again and presses excessive, that doesn’t speculate, has a number of particular person expertise, it’s a giant recreation and it’s an important workforce, present champions of Italy.”
Barcelona have struggled with accidents of late, Frenkie de Jong and Pedri amongst these unavailable, and Xavi confirmed that ahead Ferran Torres, who has missed the final seven video games with a hamstring downside, remains to be not able to return.
The supervisor hopes to have Torres again for his or her subsequent league recreation at Atletico Madrid on Sunday however for now is just not on the lookout for any excuses regardless of the absentees.
“Our absences are necessary however we’ve to compete. We had been higher there (away to Napoli) and we’ve to be higher right here,” he stated.
“It’s an opportunity to be within the quarter-finals, it’s an opportunity to show the tables, the absences are usually not an excuse, we’re not afraid of failing, it’s an opportunity to compete in entrance of our followers.”
