Usually, coaches and executives of the football clubs don’t talk about other players when it comes to transfers. Just look at Florentino Perez. Real’s president is about to make a big transfer for Real by bringing in Kylian Mbappe, and yet he never spoke about him or talked about how he would like to see him in Madrid. But, there are exceptions, and Barcelona is one of those clubs whose boss (or president) doesn’t mind speaking up his mind. A few months ago, Bayern Munich’s CEO warned the Catalans to stop talking about their player Joshua Kimmich, but now they did it again. This time, however, the ‘damage’ is not so bad, considering the fact that Xavi announced his departure from Barcelona.💡: Barcelona and Napoli have faced each other thrice in knockout competitions and each time the first leg has ended 1-1. Barça have won the second leg and advanced to the next round in the previous two ties. pic.twitter.com/3vwnDrZ5tj— Barça Buzz (@Barca_Buzz) March 12, 2024 The Spaniard spoke about the upcoming opponent Napoli, who is playing Barcelona in the return leg after a 1-1 draw in Italy and highlighted players he liked.“I like Napoli players in attack. Politano, Kvara and Osimhen, but also how they defend. Lobotka is the player I like, at a construction level, he doesn’t lose the ball and I would like to see him in a team like Barcelona. He makes the difference for Naples” said Xavi at the press conference.Bad blood between Barcelona and Paris: Yamal would represent the continuation of painful transfersEverybody in Catalunya is aware that this is ‘the’ game of the season for Barcelona. And it comes in a bad moment because much has changed since the first leg. With interim coach Francesco Calzona, the Neapolitans are yet to be defeated (three draws and two prestigious victories). Victor Osimhen has scored 4 goals since he has a new coach, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is on fire with four goals and an assist in the last three games. Opposite them are injury-hit Barca, without Pedri or De Jong, in addition to already lost Gavi and Balde.“There are no favourites, it’s 50-50. The crowd must support us and think the stadium must be like a pressure cooker. We must show our identity and have personality. They have improved with a new coach, they are more dynamic. We are dealing with important injuries, but we must compete. We were better than them in Naples and must be better here. It is, but we are ready, with confidence. We haven’t played in the quarter-finals for four years. We face a team that is not in the best moment but won the title last season. We need a packed stadium” said Xavi.Osimhen in line for a hefty bonusThe tradition is on Barca’s side as Napoli never won against the Catalans, although they only played five times against each other. The Blaugrana eliminated the Neapolitans from the round of 16 of the 2019/20 Champions League (1-1 in the first leg and 3-1 in the second leg) and also beat them in the 2021/22 Europa League playoff (1-1 in the first leg and 2-4 in the second leg), while the last precedent was the recent visit of the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 (1-1). Barcelona is desperate to return to the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the first time in four years. On that occasion, Barca was eliminated against Paris Saint-Germain (1-4 in the first leg at Camp Nou and 1-1 in the second leg at the Parc des Princes), and there are only four players from that squad still at Camp Nou: goalkeepers Marc ter Stegen and Iñaki Peña and midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Pedri González Only Ter Stegen will start tonight since both midfielders are injured, while Pena is also a goalkeeper and will be on the bench.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE1/8 finals – second legTuesdayBayern – Lazio 3-0 (2-0)/Kane 38, 66, Muller 45+2/Bayern win 3-1 on aggregateReal Sociedad – Paris Saint-Germain 1-2 (0-1)/Merino 89 – Mbappe 15, 56/Paris Saint-Germain win 4-1 on aggregateWednesdayReal Madrid – RB Leipzig 1-1 (0-0)/Vinicius 65 – Orban 68/Real Madrid win 2-1 on aggregateMan.City – Copenhagen 3-1 (2-1)/Akanji 5, Alvarez 9, Haaland 45+3 – Elyounoussi 29/Manchester City win 6-2 on aggregateTuesday the 12th23:00: (1.77) Barcelona (3.60) Napoli (4.80) /first leg 1-1/23:00: (1.28) Arsenal (5.70) Porto (10.5) /first leg 0-1/Wednesday the 13th23:00: (3.05) Atl.Madrid (3.30) Inter (2.55) /first leg 0-1/23:00: (2.15) Dortmund (3.50) PSV (3.30) / first leg 1-1/***odds are subject to change***
