NAPLES, ITALY - FEBRUARY 21: Victor Osimhen of SSC Napoli celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between SSC Napoli and FC Barcelona at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 21, 2024 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY - FEBRUARY 21: Victor Osimhen of SSC Napoli celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between SSC Napoli and FC Barcelona at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 21, 2024 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Victor Osimhen, Matteo Politano and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia lead the Napoli attack in the Champions League Round of 16 with Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal.

It kicks off at the Estadi Olimpico Lluis Companys – as Camp Nou is undergoing restructuring work – at 20.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.

The first leg ended 1-1, so with the away goals rule long gone in UEFA competitions, it’s winner takes all for a place in the quarter-finals and any draw will prompt extra time.

Francesco Calzona made his debut in that first game and is still unbeaten with two wins and three draws, but fresh from Friday’s disappointing 1-1 result against Torino.

He has a full squad to choose from, other than cup-tied Piotr Zielinski, so Hamed Junior Traore takes over in midfield.

Amir Rrahmani was rested against Torino and is back in defence here with Juan Jesus, even after Natan recovered from a dislocated shoulder.

Politano gets the nod rather than Giacomo Raspadori in the trident attack with Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia.

Barcelona have quite a few issues to deal with, losing both Pedri and Frenkie de Jong to serious injuries since the first leg.

Ferran Torres, Gavi and Alejandro Balde are long-term absentees and left-back Marcos Alonso is not at 100 per cent either.

Their form has not been good recently, sitting third in LaLiga after slipping behind Girona FC, but they are unbeaten in eight competitive matches.

Lewandowski is the Champions League specialist, contributing 93 goals and 26 assists in his 117 appearances.

He is flanked by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, as Joao Felix, who was only fit to be a late substitute in the first leg after an ankle problem and was expected to start tonight, but is on the bench.

There is more at stake for Napoli, as progress to the quarter-finals would practically secure their place in the Club World Cup.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Koundé, Ronald Araújo, Cubarsí, Joao Cancelo; Fermin Lopez, Christensen, Gündogan; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha

Barcelona bench: Inaki Pena, Astralaga, Inigo Martinez, Joao Felix, Oriol Romeu, Roque, Sergi Roberto, Casado, Hernandez, Guiu, Fort

Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Mario Rui; Anguissa, Lobotka, Traoré; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia

Napoli bench: Contini, Gollini, Natan, Olivera, Simeone, Cajuste, Ngonge, Lindstrom, Mazzocchi, Ostigard, Raspadori

Ref: Makkelie (NED)

12-03-2024 20:00
1/8 Final

Player statistic

1st half
Fermín López
(Assist: Raphinha)
Goal 15'    
João Cancelo Goal 17'    
Andreas Christensen Yellow card 19'    
    30' Goal Amir Rrahmani
(Assist: Matteo Politano)
Lamine Yamal Yellow card 44'    
    45+2' Yellow card Juan Jesus
2nd half
    63' Yellow card Hamed Junior Traorè
    67' Yellow card Mathías Olivera
Robert Lewandowski
(Assist: Sergi Roberto)
Goal 83'    

Match statistic

49
Possession %
51
24
Total shots
14
10
Shots on target
4
10
Shots off target
7
4
Blocked shots
3
7
Corners
2
1
Offsides
4
7
Fouls
16
Barcelona
Napoli

Starting lineups

1
15
61'
2
Defender
23
Defender
33
Defender
4
Defender
32
Midfielder
60'
22
Midfielder
27
Attacker
11
Attacker
81'
9
1
Goalkeeper
13
Defender
22
5
Defender
6
Defender
64'
99
Midfielder
8
78'
68
Midfielder
77
90'
21
Attacker
64'
9
Attacker

Substitutes

13
Goalkeeper
5
Defender
30
Midfielder
26
Goalkeeper
38
Attacker
39
Defender
19
Attacker
35
Midfielder
20
Midfielder
60'
18
Midfielder
61'
14
Attacker
81'
55
Defender
14
Goalkeeper
18
Attacker
30
95
Goalkeeper
24
Midfielder
3
Defender
29
Midfielder
64'
17
Defender
64'
81
78'
26
Attacker
90'

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