The UEFA Europa League is about to return with knockout spherical playoffs as Champions League frequenter Barcelona will tackle Italy’s Napoli on Thursday, in accordance with Anadolu Company.
In December 2021, Barcelona exited the UEFA Champions League Group E after ending third behind Bayern Munich and Benfica, a uncommon behavior for the Spanish membership.
Following 17 successive years within the Champions League, Barcelona didn’t progress from their group within the 2021 autumn.
So third-place Barcelona joined the Europa League playoffs previous to the Spherical of 16 – an enormous disappointment for the membership that gained the Champions League title in 2011 and 2015.
Barca final performed in Europe’s second-flight event within the 2003-04 season. The Spanish workforce had been eradicated by Scotland’s Celtic on a 1-0 combination within the UEFA Cup final 16 in 2004.
On the opposite facet, Napoli certified for the 2022 playoffs after they had been the Europa League Group C runners-up behind Spartak Moscow.
On Thursday, Barcelona will face Napoli at their residence floor Camp Nou.
Barcelona and Napoli haven’t any suspended gamers for this match.
However longtime Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, 35, will miss subsequent match if he was booked within the first leg. The identical goes for Napoli’s Senegalese central defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
The second leg match will likely be performed on Feb. 24 in Naples’ Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
The profitable workforce of the Barcelona vs. Napoli tie will make their solution to the Europa League spherical of 16. The dropping facet will exit Europe.
Argentine soccer legend Maradona’s ex-clubs Barcelona and Napoli beforehand met within the Champions League final 16 in 2020 or the viral yr.
Within the first leg in February, Barcelona took a 1-1 attract Naples. Then, COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the UEFA event for a number of months.
In August 2020, Barcelona beat Napoli 3-1 within the second leg at Camp Nou to achieve Champions League quarterfinals.
Playoffs 1st leg fixtures:
Barcelona (Spain) – Napoli (Italy)
Borussia Dortmund (Germany) – Rangers (Scotland)
Zenit (Russia) – Actual Betis (Spain)
Sheriff (Moldova) – Braga (Portugal)
Sevilla (Spain) – Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
RB Leipzig (Germany) – Actual Sociedad (Spain)
Atalanta (Italy) – Olympiacos (Greece)
Porto (Portugal) – Lazio (Italy)© Content material from this website should be hyperlinked when used.Report a mistake by marking it and urgent ctrl + enter