Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde can’t wait for the Champions League clash with Napoli. “They are a strong and complicated opponent with a great atmosphere in their stadium.”
The first leg of the Round of 16 will be at the Stadio San Paolo on February 25, with the return on March 18.
“Napoli are a strong and complicated opponent with a great atmosphere in their stadium. You never know what form the teams will be in,” said Valverde.
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde can’t wait for the Champions League clash with Napoli. “They are a strong and complicated opponent with a great atmosphere in their stadium.”
The first leg of the Round of 16 will be at the Stadio San Paolo on February 25, with the return on March 18.
“Napoli are a strong and complicated opponent with a great atmosphere in their stadium. You never know what form the teams will be in,” said Valverde.
“They have impressive strikers like Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne. They already proved their quality in our pre-season friendlies and play good football.”
Valverde has already experienced the Stadio San Paolo when his Athletic Bilbao played there in 2014.
“It’s a passionate arena, where you can really feel the fans. We are accustomed to playing in atmospheres like that, though, and playing in Naples will be a wonderful experience.”
Carlo Ancelotti got Napoli through the group stage to reach the Round of 16, but was fired to make way for Gennaro Gattuso just hours after the 4-0 win over Genk.