Barcelona vs Napoli prediction, odds, expert betting tips and best bets for Champions League first leg

With the Spanish league title race slipping through their fingers like sand, Barcelona set their sights on European redemption as they travel to face Napoli in the first leg of their Champions League meeting in the Round of 16.

Xavi's side have dropped a full eight points back of leaders Real Madrid in the La Liga standings, leading the boss to announce his impending departure at the end of the season. Even in victory, the optics around the club have been toxic all year, with Robert Lewandowski slipping in form and the squad suffering injuries ad nauseam.

The Champions League knockout stage, thus, represents a clean slate of sorts, allowing Barca to start fresh and attempt to chase European notoriety they have seen become scarce in recent years. The Catalan giants have not reached the final since 2015, advancing past the quarterfinals just once since then as well.

CLAIM YOUR BONUS BETS AT DRAFTKINGS TODAY

Serie A opponents Napoli are suffering a similar regression, falling painfully back to Earth after last year's magical Scudetto run. They have slumped to ninth in the Italian top flight, winning just seven times compared to nine defeats in 20 total matches since the start of November.

USA: Click here to see the latest odds for Barcelona vs Napoli and bet Champions League matches

Through the first half of the season, Napoli were far worse at home than on the road this season. Two of their three Champions League group stage victories came away from the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, and just two of their seven league victories in 2023 were in front of the home fans.

It's been better as the calendar turns to 2024, but only just. They have three wins in all competitions in the new year, but two of them have come by narrow 2-1