To bring Napoli back to a 4-3-3 formation
Getting ready for another European night ✨
💙 #ForzaNapoliSemprepic.twitter.com/9goFD6GK3b
— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) February 20, 2024
Francesco Calzona is expected to bring Napoli back to a 4-3-3 formation with Victor Osimhen, Matteo Politano, and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia. Still, he has a significant doubt in midfield against Barcelona, Susy Campanale reports for Football Italia.
It starts at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday at 20.00 GMT.
The second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 is at Camp Nou on March 12.
Walter Mazzarri was fired yesterday, himself having replaced Rudi Garcia in October, so Calzona becomes their third coach of the season.
A former assistant manager to Maurizio Sarri and Luciano Spalletti here, he is expected to permanently shelve the three-person defense and return to the 4-3-3 formation.
He also has Osimhen back for the first time since leaving in late December for the Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria lost the Final to the Ivory Coast.
However, Piotr Zielinski was cut from the Champions League squad list in January after refusing to sign a new contract so that it will be either Jens Cajuste or Hamed Junior Traore in midfield.
Mario Rui is expected to return as left-back, with Amir Rrahmani and Juan Jesus the favorites in the center of defense.
Barcelona had a few worries about Joao Felix, but he took part in the entire training session at the Stadio Maradona tonight and should be available.
He might not necessarily start, though, while Inigo Martinez is the favorite to play in defense rather than 17-year-old Cubarsi.
The attack is worrying for opponents, including Robert Lewandowski, Pedri, and Lamine Yamal.
Marcos Alonso, Ferran Torres, Gavi, and Alejandro Balde are long-term absentees.
Napoli (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Mario Rui; Anguissa, Lobotka, Traorè; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
Barcelona (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Koundé, Araújo, Íñigo Martínez, Joao Cancelo; Gündogan, Christensen, de Jong; Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski, Pedri
