Champions League: Barca Bid to Save Season on Biggest Stage of All

Barcelona vs Napoli

The Champions League – the ultimate competition in world football – is back and this tie, before an empty Nou Camp stadium, is delicately poised.

Of course, only one team will prevail, and the hosts are huge favourites.

Yet after an underwhelming conclusion to the domestic campaign when a series of costly draws cost them the La Liga crown to their arch-rivals, Barcelona really need to win this to ease some of the growing pressure on manager Quique Setien.

Talking Points

On the upside, Barca are unbeaten in 35 Champions League home matches, a run that started in September 2013 (won 31, drawn four).

Indeed, their 5-1 defeat of Lyon at this stage last season eclipsed the previous competition record of 29 set by Bayern Munich between March 1998 and April 2002.

Furthermore, they have a fine record at home to Serie A clubs with just two defeats in 26 encounters. They are unbeaten in their last 15 home fixtures against Italian visitors, winning 12, since losing 2-1 to Juventus in the 2003 quarter-finals.

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UEFA – Champions League

And if those statistics aren’t enough to back the home side, they have never lost a last 16 tie in this competition when playing the second leg at home.

So, more Champions League highlights await at their Camp Nou fortress surely?

Well, you would think so but their exits over the past two seasons, spurning healthy leads against Roma and Liverpool, will mean there will be an air of nervousness and a desire to avoid a repeat of such complacency.

It won’t help that Setien will be without a number of high-profile stars due to injuries and suspensions with Sergio Busquets and Arturo Vidal both suspended and Antoine Griezmann far from certain of starting as he aims to regain match fitness.

However, while they have captain Lionel Messi, they always have a chance.

In the words of seasoned Spanish football reporter, Graham Hunter, ‘Messi doesn’t just dictate Barça’s chances of continuing their 35-match unbeaten home record in this competition, the Argentinian determines the mood too.’

In the 28 year history of the Champions League, only one Barcelona manager (Louis van Gaal) has failed to win his first home game as coach.

Setién now has the chance to join the likes of Johan Cruyff, Bobby Robson and Pep Guardiola and Messi will be his key man.

Standing in his way is a Napoli side, managed by Gennaro Gattuso, which held them to a first leg 1-1 draw at the Stadio San Paolo.

The omens are not good for the Italians who have lost their last four two-legged ties against Spanish opposition and won only seven of their last 21 matches in the competition (all bar one of those at home). Indeed, they have only won once in their last nine away European fixtures.

The backline is the issue for Gattuso as he could be without key defenders Kostas Manolas and Nikola Maksimović.

Perhaps more worryingly though is the fact Lorenzo Insigne is racing against the clock to make Saturday’s match after sustaining an adductor injury in last weekend’s success over Lazio.

Champions League: Napoli star Lorenzo Insigne faces a race against time to be fit — Lorenzo Insigne in action for Napoli against Inter Milan

Napoli need to score at least once in the Nou Camp to progress and the loss of their captain would be a major setback.

In what has been a season of ups and downs, most notably caused by a fallout between the team, predecessor Carlo Ancelotti and club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, Gattuso has helped Napoli smile again after guiding the Partenopei to the Coppa Italia, which they won by defeating old foes Juventus on penalties for their first silverware since 2014.

If Gattuso, who faced Barcelona six times in the Champions League as a player with AC Milan (won two, drawn two, lost two), masterminds a triumph in Spain, it will be his finest achievement in management to date. It could also spark Setien’s swift departure.

History

In February’s first leg, 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.

Griezmann then turned in Nélson Semedo’s cross for Barcelona’s equaliser.

That was their first official clash.

They did meet in a pre-season friendly in 2011/12 when Barcelona won 5-0 in which Messi netted twice.