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Champions League | Round of 16 | 1st Leg
Feb 21, 2024 at 8pm UK
Stadio Diego Armando Maradona
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Napoli
1 - 1
Barcelona

How Barcelona could line up against Napoli

How Barcelona could line up against Napoli
© Reuters
Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Barcelona could line up for Wednesday's Champions League clash with Napoli.

Bound for Italy after escaping with a late La Liga win last weekend, Barcelona will tackle Italian champions Napoli in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League contest on Wednesday.

The Spanish champions scraped past Celta Vigo but still sit third in the league standings - and eight points behind leaders Real Madrid - ahead of their return to Europe's top club competition.

Two integral players have been confirmed as available for the midweek meeting at Stadio Maradona, as head coach Xavi allayed concerns over the fitness of Ronald Araujo and Pedri, both of whom were withdrawn during the last-gasp victory over Celta Vigo.

Robert Lewandowski's brace at Balaidos took the Blaugrana's top scorer to his half-century of goals since swapping Bavarian for Catalonia, and the veteran striker will lead their attack once more.

Recent arrival Vitor Roque could make his Champions League debut this week, while 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal is also in contention to start, as Ferran Torres is sidelined by a thigh injury and Joao Felix (ankle) has only just returned to training.

Barcelona must also make do without Alejandro Balde, who is recovering after hamstring surgery, Marcos Alonso (back), and long-term absentee Gavi (ACL).

A Champions League winner last season, Ilkay Gundogan is sure to be recalled after only featuring from the bench on Saturday, meaning a change of personnel in midfield.

Barcelona possible starting lineup: Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Martinez, Cancelo; De Jong, Gundogan, Pedri; Yamal, Lewandowski, Roque

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Jonathan O'Shea
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