Napoli vs Barcelona: Xavi warns players about Osimhen threat in UCL clash

Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez acknowledges nullifying Napoli's fearsome attack will be key to progressing in the Champions League tonight.

Pulse Sports Nigeria reports that LALIGA champions Barcelona will take on their Italian counterparts, Napoli, and Xavi has his eyes on Victor Osimhen and his strike partners in one of the games of the UCL round of 16 on Wednesday night.

Ahead of the first leg of their last-16 tie in Naples, Xavi singled out Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, striker Osimhen and Italian forward Matteo Politano as major threats.

"It is crucial for us to defend well tomorrow (today),” Xavi stated according to getfootballnewsspain. 

The Barcelona manager is under no illusions about the quality Napoli possess going forward led by the club icon and Super Eagles star, Osimhen.

It’s difficult to stop Kvaratskhelia, Osimhen and Politano. They are top players," Xavi stated.

But he knows shackling their free-scoring frontline will be pivotal if Barcelona are to gain a first-leg advantage at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

For Xavi, how his defense copes with Napoli's offensive weapons could decide the tie. It looms as Barcelona's acid test.

Nigeria’s Osimhen, 25, who is the African Player of the Year, recently returned from AFCON 2023, where he led the Super Eagles to a second place finish.

The Napoli man scored just one goal in seven matches as Nigeria lost 2-1 to host nation Cote d’Ivoire in the final. Osimhen is back in Naples but watched from the VIP stand as Napoli struggled to a 1-1 draw against Genoa in the league.