Barcelona vs Napoli Odds: UCL Round of 16 Preview
Score Level Following First Leg
Injuries Hampering Barcelona
Xavi will have to make do without three of his key players on Tuesday, as all of Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Gavi are out. That presents a potential opportunity for visitors Napoli to take down the hosts and advance to the Champions League Quarter-Final.
With the score level at one after the first leg of the round 16, both UCL teams will feel they have what it takes to advance. In a match that features the reigning La Liga and Serie A champions, we’ll take a deep dive into the Barcelona vs Napoli odds.
Barcelona vs Napoli
Day/Time:
Location: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona vs Napoli Head-to-Head
In February, Barcelona vs Napoli odds listed Napoli as slight +160 favorites and Barcelona at +161. Instead, the outcome was a draw (+247) as Victor Osimhen’s 75th minute goal for Napoli canceled out Robert Lewandowski’s. The UCL bracket also matched up Barcelona and Napoli in the 2019-20 round of 16.
The first leg also finished in a draw in Naples and Barcelona won the reverse fixture, 3-1. Barcelona also won 5-3, on aggregate, in the 2021-22 Europa League knockout playoff. Napoli are 0-3-2 vs Barcelona all-time.
Lamine Yamal Carries Barcelona vs Mallorca
Barcelona are missing a bunch of first team UCL players at the moment and Xavi had to shake up his lineup vs Mallorca on Friday. Ronald Araujo missed the match due to a suspension, so Pau Cubarsi and Iñigo Martinez started in the heart of defense.
With Pedri and Frenkie de Jong out, Raphinha played in midfield. However, he left the match injured in the first half and is questionable for Tuesday’s match.
On Friday, Lamine Yamal stepped up for Barcelona and the 16-year old scored an impressive individual goal. In his first season as a professional, Yamal, a winger, has scored six goals and provided four assists.
Only Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres and Joao Felix have scored more goals than Yamal on Barça this season. Lewandowski was recently named the February La Liga Player of the Month, with four goals in four games.
Most soccer betting news for Barcelona currently revolves around injuries. Torres also missed the match vs Mallorca and has been out with a hamstring injury.
Along with Gavi, De Jong and Pedri, Alex Balde and Marcos Alonso are out longer term. With all of the injuries, Xavi started 18-year old Marc Guiu on Friday but Lewandowski should lead the line on Tuesday.
Napoli Unbeaten Under Calzona
After a Serie A title winning campaign in 2022-23, Napoli haven’t strung together three wins in a row yet this season. They had an opportunity to change that on Friday, when they hosted Torino in Serie A.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia got on the scoresheet for the Partenopei for the third straight match. The Georgian winger has scored four goals in his last three appearances and could certainly cause Barcelona problems on Tuesday.
Although Kvara had a good game for Napoli, they conceded an equalizer vs Torino and settled for a draw. The Partenopei are currently seven points outside of the Champions League places and have been wildly inconsistent this UCL season.
However, Napoli are unbeaten in five games under interim coach Francesco Calzona, with two wins and three draws. That also coincides with star striker Victor Osimhen’s return from Africa Cup of Nations fatigue.
Napoli’s UCL scores on the road this season have been solid. They picked up wins over Braga and Union Berlin away from home but fell to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
It’s a tall task for Napoli to advance by getting their first-ever win over Barcelona here but they’re certainly the healthier side. Only Jens Cajuste and Cyril Ngonge are dealing with injuries for the Partenopei.
Barcelona vs Napoli Odds & Match Analysis
Barcelona have an implied 71.4 percent chance to go through to the Quarter-final. They are -250 favorites to qualify and show -115 odds to seal the deal in normal time.
With their injuries, it’s going to take a huge effort from Barcelona here. Their European record under Xavi hasn’t necessarily been great either, as they’ve suffered some disappointing home results in recent seasons.
Here, the Barcelona vs Napoli odds list visitors Napoli as +200 underdogs to qualify and at +305 to win in 90 minutes. While Barcelona’s ATS and moneyline odds are the same, Napoli -0.5 displays -105 odds. Another draw, which would mean extra time, is priced at +275.
With Kvara and Osimhen healthy and in form for Napoli, they’ll undoubtedly feel they can go on and win this match. If they’re able to pull it off, it’d be a famous win for Napoli. All the while, under 2.5, 3 goals come in at -120 odds for Tuesday’s round of 16 decider.
For UCL betting news, Champions League odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
