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Napoli v Barcelona
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Kick Off: Wednesday 21st February at 20:00
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Competition: Champions League
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Watch Live: TNT Sports 2
The second week of the round of 16 fixtures in this season’s Champions League is here, and as ever, our experts have been all over the football going on in Europe. Alongside our Napoli v Barcelona bet builder tips, make sure you check out our Champions League bet builder tips, including those for Porto v Arsenal; our Champions League accumulator for Wednesday, as well as plenty more free expert football betting predictions.
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Barcelona will travel to Naples to face Napoli on Wednesday night. Napoli have looked a completely different outfit this season in Serie A, currently finding themselves in ninth place. Despite this, the hosts have experienced joy in Europe, qualifying for the knockout stages with ease. However, European success has evidently not been sufficient for Walter Mazzarri, with the Italian manager being sacked just days before this huge clash.
Xavi’s Barcelona have looked strong in 2024, winning five of their seven La Liga games since the turn of the year. The visitors topped Group H with 12 points, beating both Porto and Shakhtar to first place.
The two sides last met in the Europa League knockouts in 2022, which saw Barcelona win 5-3 on aggregate.
These Napoli v Barcelona stats will provide an insight into what to expect from this meeting. If you plan to place a bet builder on this game, this is the way to find the best tips.
Napoli v Barcelona Cheat Sheet
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You can find Napoli v Barcelona match stats, on my bet builder stats tool, along with official line-ups one hour before kick-off.
🥅 Goals stats: Plenty of goals in-store
There have been plenty of goals in games involving Napoli this season. An average of 2.4 goals have been scored per game across the hosts’ last ten matches in all competitions, with an even higher average of 3.17 goals over their six games in this competition.
Like Napoli, Barcelona’s games have seen an abundance of goals this campaign, with their last ten outings having seen an average of 4.3 goals per match. The average remains high in the Champions League, with Xavi’s side’s European games seeing an average of 3 goals per match.
At least two goals have been scored in all but one of Napoli’s six games in this competition, and in four of Barcelona’s six. When the two sides met in 2022, a minimum of two goals were scored in each of the two legs. We expect this tally to be matched or exceeded here, with value of 1.20 available for this selection.
Predictions:
⚽ Over 1.5 goals @ 1.20
🎯 Shooting stats: A challenging night for ter Stegen
Napoli have looked dangerous going forward in this competition, registering an average of 6.33 shots on target per home game. The hosts have registered a minimum of five shots on target in six of their last seven home matches in all competitions.
Barcelona have looked vulnerable defensively when playing on away soil in the Champions League, leaking an average of 4.67 shots on target per game thus far. In all competitions, four of the visitors’ last six opponents have registered a minimum of four shots on target.
A price of 1.40 for the hosts to register a minimum of four shots on target in this one is worth taking.
Predictions:
⚽ Napoli to have 4+ shots on target @ 1.40
🛑 Fouls stats: Key battles out wide
Napoli have committed an average of 10 fouls per home game in the Champions League this season.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo has contributed greatly to this, committing a foul in all of his three home appearances in this competition. The Italian right back has committed an average of 1 foul per game across his last nine starts at home.
Barcelona have committed their fair share of fouls, fouling an average of 11.67 times per game across their three away matches in this competition.
One persistent fouler has been Joao Cancelo, with the Portuguese full-back committing an average of 1.5 fouls per game in the group stages. Cancelo has committed at least one foul in all of his last four starts and will have the task of dealing with either of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia or Matteo Politano, both of whom have drawn an average of 3.17 fouls per game collectively in the Champions League.
Value of 1.30 is being offered for Joao Cancelo to commit at least one foul, while a price of 1.50 is available for Di Lorenzo to do the same.
Predictions:
⚽ Joao Cancelo to commit 1+ fouls @ 1.30
⚽ Giovanni Di Lorenzo to commit 1+ fouls @ 1.50
🟨 Cards stats: Barcelona to keep the referee busy
When playing at home, Napoli have clearly made things difficult for their opposition, with their opponents being carded an average of 2.67 times per match in this competition.
Barcelona have kept referees very busy so far this season. In La Liga, the visitors have received an average of 2.36 cards per match. Across their last six away league matches, the visitors have been cautioned an average of 3 times per game.
In this competition, Barcelona have amassed an even higher average of 2.5 cards per game. The majority of these cards have come in away matches, with Xavi’s men picking up an average of 4 cards per game on the road.
Referee Felix Zwayer has brandished plenty of cards in this season’s competition, showing an average of 6.25 cards per match thus far.
We expect a feisty game here, with a generous price of 1.83 being offered for the visitors to receive at least three cards.
Predictions:
⚽ Over 2.5 Barcelona cards @ 1.83
🚩 Corners stats: Expect plenty of Napoli corners
Only three teams have taken more corners than Napoli in the Champions League this season. The hosts have earned an average of 8 corners per game, with an even higher average of 10.67 corners per home match. Napoli have taken a minimum of four corners in all of their last 14 home games.
Barcelona have conceded an average of three corners per game in this competition; however, this average has been higher on away soil, with Xavi’s men conceding 3.67 corners per home match.
1.33 for Napoli to take a minimum of four corners appeals for a bet builder leg.
Predictions:
⚽ Over 3.5 Napoli corners @ 1.33
* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets.
* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.
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