Xavi Hernandez wants Barcelona to use the showdown with stuttering Napoli to ‘prove we have the quality to compete at this level’ in the Champions League Round of 16.
It kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 20.00 GMT.
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
The second leg of this tie will be at Camp Nou on March 12 and the away goals no longer applies in UEFA competitions.
“We are in the Champions League Round of 16, I am very happy that after two years we are back here. Now we have high expectations and ambitions to reach the quarter-final,” Xavi told Sky Sport Italia.
The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona is named after the legendary Pibe de Oro, who played for both Barcelona and Napoli in his career.
“We have already been in this stadium, we know it is a special arena for the name it carries, the way the Napoli fans cheer on their team. It will be a difficult match, at the top level you have to expect from the Champions League.”
This will be the debut for Francesco Calzona as the third coach of the season for the Partenopei, who sacked Rudi Garcia in October and Walter Mazzarri on Monday.
“Napoli are not going through their best period of form, but they remain a great team,” insisted Xavi.
If they have been struggling, then Barcelona haven’t had the best campaign either and Xavi already announced he will leave the club at the end of the season.
“This is the ideal opportunity for us to prove that we have the quality to compete at this level.”
#NapoliBarcellona, #Xavi: "La serata ideale per dimostrare la nostra ambizione"https://t.co/WqcCUpKXfz
— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) February 21, 2024