FC Barcelona and Naples open a strong agenda of eight games, on the afternoon of this Thursday, February 17, 2022. In the UEFA Europa League they will play a competition that places them as the main attraction of the second most important club tournament on the European continent.
The Spaniards reach this instance for the first time in 18 years, after participating in 10 previous editions in which they only reached the semifinals four times.
His current stay comes after the surprise elimination from the Champions League this season, finishing third in Group E with seven points, one less than Benfica.
In the midst of this crisis that the azulgranas experienced last year, in which the departure of their star Lionel Messi to PSG stands out, their coach Xavi Hernández emphasizes that the main motivation of his team is to win this tournament, which would allow him to return to the elite of the Champions.
FC Barcelona, new goals in the Europa League
Barca never had the chance to compete in the Champions League. “It’s maddening not to be in the Champions League, but winning the Europa League allows us to enter,” Diario Marca quoted regarding the coach’s statements.
For its part, Naples arrives with the mission of transcending and seeking the title in a season characterized by fighting for first place in the Italian League.
Last weekend they drew 1-1 with Inter, a result that hurt both, due to AC Milan’s rise to the top. However, the three have a strong fight for the leadership of “Calcio”.
Probable alignments of the FC Barcelona and the Naples:
Barcelona: Stephen; Dest, Pique, Araujo, Alba; Gavi, Busquets, Pedri; Traore, Aubameyang, Dembele.
Naples: Ospina; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Koulibaly, Mario Rui; Anguissa, Ruiz; Elmas, Zieliński, Insigne; Osimhen.
The rest of the matches will be as follows:
Thursday 2-17-22 (14:45 pm Ecuador/Peru/Colombia)
-Barcelona (Spa.) vs. Naples (Ital.)
-Zenit (Rus.) vs. Betis (Sp.)
-B. Dortumnd (Ger.) vs. Ranger (Esc.)
-Sheriff (Mold.) vs. S.Braga (Port.)
Thursday 2-17-22 (17:00 pm Ecuador/Peru/Colombia)
-Seville (Spa.) Vs. Dinamo Zagreb (Croa.)
-Atalanta (Ital.) vs Olympiacos (Grec.)
-Leipizig (Germany) vs. R.Society (Eng.)
-Porto (Port.) vs. Lazio (Italy)
(D)
Source: Eluniverso
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