FC Barcelona could welcome back as many as four players from injury when they host Napoli on Tuesday night in UEFA Champions League play. Ferran Torres (hamstring), Lamine Yamal and Raphinha (both knocks) all look likely to be passed fit for the midweek continental clash against Napoli.
Marcos Alonso (back) is moving closer, but likely won’t be back until the weekend. So that was the good news. Now for the bad
FC Barcelona vs Napoli FYIs
Kickoff: Tue. March. 12, 8pm, Olympic Stadium
Competition: UEFA Champions League Round of 16, Leg 2/2
Aggregate: 1-1
Barca Preview Material: Team News Starting XI Prediction
Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK
Result Probability: Barca 50% Extra Time 26% Napoli 24%
Rest of the Barca Team News
– Pedri (hamstring) and Frenkie de Jong (ankle) won’t be back until some time in April. Finally, Gavi (ACL tear) and Alejandro Balde (tendon rupture) remain out for the rest of the season, and into the summer even. Barca head into this European affair on the back of a 1-0 win over Mallorca. Again it was a win where they didn’t really impress all too much.
Perhaps, given the reinforcements now available in their squad, they’ll be able to play more convincingly, and perhaps even dominant, in this one.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to Ravens Wire, part of the USA Today SMG’s NFL Wire Network. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Tribune and the Washington Times. You can follow him on Twitter.