The Catalans crashed out of the Champions League in the organization level with just goals scored in six fits, the appearance of Xavi Hernandez now not enough to revive their fortunes in a competition they've received five times.
A assembly with a Napoli side presently preventing for the Serie A identify could be worthy of the continent's elite membership competition, and certainly the sides met inside the closing sixteen of the Champions League simply two years ago.
Yet Barca as a substitute face a real undertaking in this play-off tie simply to make it via to the remaining sixteen as they are trying to salvage a few satisfaction in Europe and move all the way to the very last in Seville in May.
"It is not a beneficial draw. They are one of the hardest facets we could have faced, a Champions League-degree crew," Xavi said whilst the draw changed into made.
The Catalans, who lie fourth in La Liga a large 15 factors at the back of leaders Real Madrid, had appeared within the knockout rounds of the Champions League in each of the closing 17 seasons, last lacking out in 2003-04 when they performed in the UEFA Cup.
Barcelona had been not the handiest excessive-profile name to be knocked out of the Champions League upfront, with Borussia Dortmund also dropping down into the Europa League.
The Germans will face Scottish champions Rangers with the first leg on the Signal Iduna Park as the house facet wait to see if Erling Haaland will play.
The Norwegian, scorer of 23 goals in 21 video games in all competitions this season, has missed Dortmund's ultimate outings against Bayer Leverkusen and Union Berlin in the Bundesliga.
Sevilla additionally dropped out of the Champions League however that could match a membership who've received the Europa League or its predecessor, the UEFA Cup, a file six instances together with maximum currently in 2020.
- Away goals no greater -
