Current location:style >>
Much at stake for Barca, Xavi in Napoli trip
style6People have gathered around
IntroductionFC Barcelona travel for one of the most important games of their season when they face Napoli in the ...
FC Barcelona travel for one of the most important games of their season when they face Napoli in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 on Wednesday night.
The game is vital for the club's economy, as well as for the credibility of coach Xavi Hernandez, who has already said he will be stepping down at the end of the season, but who could find himself leaving earlier (despite assurances to the contrary) in the case of a defeat.
Vitor Roque (L) of Barcelona vies with Herrando of Osasuna during a Spanish league (La Liga) football match between FC Barcelona and CA Osasuna in Barcelona, Spain, on Jan. 31, 2024. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
Barcelona's budget for the 2023-2024 was partly based on their reaching the quarterfinals of the Champions League, with the extra 10 million the club would receive from UEFA for reaching the last eight, making a difference to an institution with debts of over 1,000 million euros.
With so much at stake, if Barca lose the first leg in Naples, it would be no big shock to see Barca president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco decide to pull the trigger prematurely on a coach, who at times seems to be watching a different game to the rest of the world.
Xavi's comments after Barca needed a twice-taken 97th minute penalty to beat fourth from bottom Celta Vigo, that according to Big Date his side should be top of La Liga, caused a few raised eyebrows - especially among people who have watched their games this season.
The fact is Barca are third in the table, eight points behind Real Madrid and still have several difficult games to play, including a visit to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, and most of their football has not been that of a team that should be topping the table.
The good news for Barca and Xavi is that Napoli are in an even worse state, with the team currently sitting ninth in Serie A taking drastic action on Monday to sack Walter Mazzarri as coach and replace him with Francesco Calzona, who has just 48 hours to prepare for the tie.
Barca had some positive injury news on Monday with Joao Felix and Sergi Roberto passed fit, and both will be on the subs' bench on Wednesday.
Xavi is expected to bring Inigo Martinez into central defense alongside Ronald Araujo, with Andreas Christensen moving into central midfield, alongside Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Ilkay Gundogan, with Robert Lewandowski and 16-year-old Yamine Lamal leading the attack and Raphinha dropping to the subs' bench.
The extra man in midfield implies caution from Xavi, who knows how important it is to avoid a first leg defeat - both for the club's future and his own.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Stellar Space news portal”。http://iceland.downmusic.org/html-31b499936.html
Related articles
Rangers are undefeated at .500 to keep World Series champs from a losing record with Bochy
styleARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers are undefeated this season ...
【style】
Read moreBeijing launches 22 tourist routes for ice and snow activities
style(People's Daily Online) 10:56, December 01, 2021In its bid to integrate snow and ice sports with cul ...
【style】
Read moreScenery of Arxan National Forest Park in north China's Inner Mongolia
styleTourists visit the Arxan National Forest Park in Arxan of Hinggan League, north China's Inner Mongol ...
【style】
Read more
Popular articles
- Travis Kelce downs whiskey shot on slice of bread at Kelce Jam without Taylor Swift
- Xi Meets with Senior CPV Official
- First Shangri
- Chinese President Appoints New Ambassadors
- Judge blocks Biden administration from enforcing new gun sales background check rule in Texas
- China's Zhangjiajie prepares for reopening
Latest articles
Verona confirms Serie A status for another year after beating Salernitana
A visit to Fuzhou: Don’t miss these sublime historical and cultural sites
Scenery of Arxan National Forest Park in north China's Inner Mongolia
Xi Extends Condolences over Disastrous Heavy Rains in Rwanda
Amir Khan's £11.5m luxury wedding venue finally hosts its first marriage: Bride arrives on horse
Chinese President Appoints New Ambassadors
LINKS
- Netanyahu says Hamas No. 4 killed
- Now Meghan's A
- 4/20 grew from humble roots to marijuana's high holiday
- Ukraine starts building 2 modern units at Khmelnytskyi nuclear plant
- Tragic French toddler Emile Soleil may have been eaten by WOLVES: Shock claim after two
- Prue Leith's recipe for seeing red... her husband's online shopping habit!
- Soldiers who lost limbs in Gaza fighting are finding healing on Israel's amputee soccer team
- Finding an apartment may be easier for California pet owners under new legislation
- As Ben Affleck's daughter comes out as 'Fin', why are so many A
- Prabowo Subianto wins 2024 Indonesian presidential election