Champions League: Osimhen’s Napoli to face Barcelona in round of 16

Napoli’s Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen reacts during the UEFA Champions League first round group C football match between Real Madrid CF and SSC Naples at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on November 29, 2023. (Photo by AFP)

Victor Osimhen and his Napoli teammates have a tough Champions League round of 16 draw as they will take on Barcelona.

The draw for the round of 16 took place on Monday, 18 December 2023.

Barcelona have had the upper hand against Napoli having never lost to the reigning Serie A champions.

In the six encounters between the two teams, Barcelona have won four and drawn two against Napoli.

The last time the two teams clashed was in the Europa League in February 2022 in Italy with Barcelona winning 4-2.

Napoli will host the first leg before traveling to Spain for the second leg.

Another Super Eagles player Umar Sadiq and his Real Sociedad teammates will have their hands full in the round of 16.

The LaLiga club will take on French Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain in the first knockout round.

Meanwhile, Zaidu Sanusi’s FC Porto will take on Premier League heavyweight Arsenal.

Other draws will last season’s finalist Inter Milan take on Atletico Madrid, PSV will battle Borussia Dortmund, Lazio will face Bayern Munich, reigning champions Manchester City will tackle Copenhagen and Leipzig will slug it out with Real Madrid.

The first legs of the round of 16 will be played on 13, 14, 20 and 21 February, and the second legs will be played on 5, 6, 12 and 13 March 2024.

The final of this season’s UEFA Champions League will be played at the Wembley Stadium in London, England.

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