Barcelona versus Napoli: Osimhen leads Partenopei onslaught at Olympic Stadium

Victor Osimhen, a Nigerian football player, is anticipated to lead Napoli’s offensive line in their upcoming match against Barcelona in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. The game will take place at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium on Tuesday.

In their first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 clash last month at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, the Partenopei managed to hold the Blaugrana to a tense 1-1 draw. They initially fell behind 1-0 due to a goal from Roberto Lewandowski, but Osimhen was able to get the equalizer 15 minutes later.

Osimhen secured a tie for Napoli in his initial club outing since December, as they maintained a deadlock against Barcelona in their opening leg of the Champions League last-16.

Napoli coach Francesco Calzona has selected a highly talented Napoli team, consisting of players such as Victor Osimhen, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, for the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 encounter against Barcelona.

Barcelona faced several injuries prior to the match, with Ferran Torres, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Alejandro Balde, and Gavi unavailable for selection. Jens Cajuste, despite being summoned, is unlikely to participate in a match for Napoli because of a hamstring problem.

Xavi, the coach of Barcelona, stated during a pre-match news conference on Monday that Napoli has shown improvement under Calzona. He also disclosed his expectations for his team in Tuesday’s meeting.

“I anticipate a confident Napoli team that starts their attacks from the defense and applies high pressure without hesitation.” “They possess exceptional individual excellence,” Xavi stated, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.

“The three attacking players of Napoli possess a high level of skill.” It’s a big game against a big team, the defending Italian champions.

“There are no favorites; it’s 50-50. The audience must back us and think the stadium must be like a pressure cooker. We must exhibit our identity and have personalities.

“They have improved with a new coach; they are more dynamic. We are dealing with major injuries, but we must compete. We were better than them in Naples and must be better here,” continued the Spanish tactician.” Xavi agreed that tomorrow’s game is the most significant of the season for the La Liga giants.

“It is, but we are ready, with confidence. We haven’t played in the quarterfinals for four years. We face a team that is not in its best moment but won the title last season. We need a crowded stadium.

“We already played good games against big clubs like Real Madrid, even if we lost in La Liga, but also Atletico and Napoli. We must do similarly yet be more effective inside the boxes.”

Osimhen’s equaliser marked his ninth Champions League goal, the joint-most by a Nigerian player in the history of UEFA’s premier club tournament level with Obafemi Martins.

Napoli went into the match with tremendous confidence in Osimhen to give a top-class performance in Catalan.

Barcelona will be eager to use their home advantage, considering the reigning Spanish champions are unbeaten in their five encounters with Napoli in all competitions.