He Naples awaits Barça in 2024. After two years in exile in Europa Leaguepaying for his self-destruction, both sporting and economic, the Xavi’s team He has slipped into the top 16 on the continent, leaving, however, a trail of irregularity, especially away from home. But they will play in the round of 16, according to the draw held this afternoon in Nyon, against the Italian team, which had been second in Group C in which they dominated. Madrid.
He Paris SG of Luis Enrique, Mbappé and Dembélé will be measured at Real society. Inter has been the enemy that Atlético de Madrid has faced. And the Madridwhich was the last Spanish club to leave the hand of John Terry, the former captain of Chelsea, it was his turn Leipzig. Porto-Arsenal; Lazio-Bayern Munich, Copenhagen-Manchester City and PSV-Borussia Dortmund complete the round of 16 of the 2023-24 Champions League.
The Champions League Round of 16 draw is complete! ✅🚨 pic.twitter.com/EheHtd4zls
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 18, 2023
Barça has to face Naples with the return leg at home, which gives them a substantial advantage. But minor. Substantial because first it will be in Italy and then the outcome of this direct eliminator will be hosted by Montjuïc. And less because it will take place in an inhospitable stadium for the culé, which they have stopped attending in the last games, coinciding with the decline in the League visualized in the seven points difference that Madrid has and the nine that it could reach tonight Míchel’s Girona if they beat Alavés in Montilivi.
Time to tune up
Xavi, meanwhile, has time to rebuild the team, which has lost reliability. He needs to find an urgent solution because in Europe he has lost his charm for many years. He has been missing from the podium for almost a decade since his last Champions League, Berlin-2015, with Luis Enrique on the bench and the trident Messi-Neymar-Suárezis increasingly full of dust.
The coach has two months left to sew his Barça in search of the lost solvency and rescue the effectiveness that has evaporated, symbolized in the gray and melancholic figure of Lewandowski.
It’s what he said decoration after the draw: “There is a lot left for the tie. We have to get there well. We don’t have to look at the opponent, but rather look at what we have, improve, play well and score goals. It is more important that we consolidate and play at our level again “We’ll think about that tie when it’s time.”
Deco highlighted that Naples, “like us”, is the current champion of the Italian league. “They have great, high-level players.” And he reiterated the previous message: “The important thing is the day to day.” Today we are fine, tomorrow… In the end, things will work out, I have no doubt about this.”
Walter Mazzarri, the Naples coachalso valued the matchup: “All the teams that qualified for the round of 16 are strong and therefore any matchup would be difficult. This one against Barcelona is particularly difficult. It will be a fascinating challenge for us,” said the coach, in statements provided by the club.
new scenario
Xavi also looks into a totally new scenario in the Champions League. As a coach he has not played a single direct knockout in this tournament so far, eliminated as he was in the group stage (21-22, in co-responsibility with Koeman, who directed four of the six games in that group, and 22-23, with the Egarense in absolute command). And his experience goes back, therefore, to the Europa League.
Jorge Valdano: “The @FCBarcelona_es He has to gain consistency in the center of the field. He is very technically gifted but he lacks a reference: they are all very dispersed players.” #LaCasaDelFútbol #UCL pic.twitter.com/gZU6WHwH8D
— Football on Movistar Plus+ (@MovistarFutbol) December 18, 2023
In the second continental competition, Xavi’s Barça has played four qualifiers, with two defeats (Eintracht and Manchester United) and two victories (Naples and Galatasaray). Napoli is the first rival the coach faces in a Champions League match.
Meet the budget
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This season, Xavi’s Barça has crossed the border into the round of 16, even though it has suffered, especially away from home. They have only managed to win in one of the three games away from Montjuïc. It was in Porto (0-1), the first. Then, they lost in Hamburg against Shakthar (1-0) and closed the league with the second loss against Antwerp (3-2). They finished with 12 points, leading Group H ahead of Porto, the other team that entered the round of 16.
All of these imbalances must be resolved by Xavi to overcome Naples, which would allow him to sneak into the Champions League quarterfinals and meet the budget of the club’s treasury.