Barcelona in the Maradona temple for the third time and in crisis

For the third time in four years, Barcelona visit Napoli in a European tournament, and again do so in an awkward situation.

NAPLES — Barcelona And Naplesunited by a figure Diego Armando Maradonahave never crossed paths in Europe, and this Wednesday they will meet each other in the Temple of San Paolo (renamed after the legendary Argentine star) on third time in four years.

The premiere took place Barcelona in view of Naples in February 2020 on the occasion of the same Champions League round of 16 match, starting 1-1 in the last match with spectators before the Covid pandemic; He repeated this in February 2022 in the play-offs before the last 16 of the Europa League, winning 2-4, and returns again in February, two years after his last visit in a far from comfortable situation.

Barca have not won the Champions League knockout stages away from home since April 2019, when they beat Manchester United 0-1 at Old Trafford in the first leg of the quarter-finals. Then the Liverpool disaster struck and from then on it became impossible to win a knockout match in a major continental competition as an away team.

This is not just a game for Barca, nor for Napoli, whose president decided on Monday to sack Walter Mazzarri and replace him as coach with Francesco Calzona, the third coach of a disastrous season that began with the Frenchman Rudi Garcia.

If Aurelio de Laurentiis had run out of patience after Saturday’s draw with Genoa, which left the Scudetto champions in ninth position in Serie A, nine points off a Champions League spot, Joan Laporta found relief in Barca’s hard-fought victory in Vigo over Celta”, decided by a penalty in stoppage time that gave breath to Javi Hernandez, who remains as questionable for the environment as he is solid in the eyes of the Barça club president.

Firmly… Or so quickly repeats the official speech of Barça, from which the constancy of the Catalan coach until the end of the season is not questioned and it is stated that neither the game with Napoli, nor, especially, the result of this match will take place, will not lead to a change in the scenario or opinion in the offices “Camp Nou”.

Reality, however, is stubborn and the atmosphere inside the club is far from ideal, to the point that Xavi himself, after a loan draw in Montjuïc against Granada, suggested that the management immediately abandon the commitment that just two weeks ago he announced that he would end the season by his own decision .

Getting past the 1/8 finals is considered as important as it is necessary for this Barça. To restore as much calm as possible around the team, continue to dream of Europe and sigh over the collapse, as unexpected as it is chimerical for Real Madrid in the League… If Xavi’s team is able (which seems unlikely) to string together victory after victory.