The azulgrana team will seek this Thursday to advance to the round of 16 of the Europa League in an Italian fiefdom. The draw (1-1) in the first leg left the tie wide open to be resolved in 90 or 120 minutes and even require a penalty shootout.
Xavi Hernández will have to choose the eleven footballers who will leave the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium to qualify for the next round. The great result (1-4) in Valencia allows us to face the contest in a great state of mind, but the difficulty of dealing with the partenopei and the fact of receiving Athletic Club in LaLiga this weekend will condition their choice. We believe that he will go out with the following players with his usual 1-4-3-3:
The German goalkeeper has played every minute when his health has allowed him in LaLiga, Champions League and Europa League, including in one of the two Copa del Rey matches. Except for a last minute surprise, we will see him under the sticks in Naples.
The Spanish left-back will be suspended for the next LaLiga match after receiving the fifth warning, with which he will be able to dose then. He has had good games in it, with a goal and two assists in the three most recent games.
The Spanish defender was not in Valencia due to a double warning seen in the previous clash in LaLiga. He would be surprised if he is not in the eleven of a game where the continuity of the team in the competition is at stake.
The Uruguayan central defender missed the first leg due to injury, suffered in the derby against RCD Espanyol, but was able to complete the visit to Mestalla. Being healthy, he has been a regular for Xavi Hernández, so everything indicates that he will be the chosen one for Napoli.
The Spanish defender, usually used as a shallow right back and even as a third centre-back, started the first leg and played half of the match at Mestalla. Despite the fact that Sergiño Dest is more common in LaLiga, the approach of the first leg leads one to believe in the presence of Mingueza.
The Spanish pivot came on from the bench in the first leg to dose himself and has completed the last five games in LaLiga. Playing for the future in the competition, it is hard to imagine that the captain is not on the pitch.
The Dutch midfielder has played around an hour in the last three games, starting in all of them. He has been dosed by Xavi Hernández, but whenever he has had him available he has counted on him from the start.
The Spanish midfielder played the entire first leg and was dosed at Mestalla, where he was seen on the pitch for half an hour. He has contributed a goal and an assist in the last two LaLiga games, in addition to growing with the new coach since he can count on him.
The Spanish attacker has played the two most recent games on the left side, although we have also seen him before on the right and even as nine. He comes from being questioned about the first leg, with which he will want to vindicate himself.
The Gabonese and French center forward has been a starter in the last two games and has just scored a hat trick in Mestalla. In his four games as a Barça player he has acted like nine, something that apparently can continue to be the case.
The Spanish and Malian right winger has started in three of the four games that have taken place since he arrived. He played only nine minutes in Mestalla, something that indicates that he was dosed to start in Naples.
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