Napoli v Barcelona: Champions League last 16, first leg – live

The reigning champions of Italy and Spain meet in what is ostensibly the glamour clash of the round. Only problem being, it’s faded glamour right now.

Napoli are onto their third manager of the season having lost five of their last 11 in all competitions, winning only three. During that run, they’ve been cashiered from the Coppa Italia in disgrace, losing 4-0 at home to Frosinone. Their defence of the scudetto they took 33 years to reclaim has been a pitiful shambles: they’re currently ninth, having scored just five goals in their last eight league matches. This is a team that scored 105 times last season. Way to go off a cliff. Let’s see what wonders new man Francesco Calzona, who replaced Walter Mazzarri on Monday, has worked in the 48 hours he’s been in office.

Barcelona are faring better, but only because the bar’s been set so low. They’ve got managerial woes of their own – Xavi is off in the summer – and while they’re third in La Liga, they’re well off the pace set by Real Madrid. Their last two league matches paint a picture: they required a late goal from 16-year-old Lamine Yamal to salvage a home draw against relegation-haunted Granada, and needed a twice-taken injury-time Robert Lewandowski penalty to see off struggling Celta Vigo. They’ve also recently been battered 5-3 at home by Villarreal, and dispatched from the Copa Del Rey 4-2 by Athletic Bilbao.

Something’s got to give. Will the undoubted quality both teams possess finally show itself and tell? Or will we witness a fiasco for the ages? Either way, this could be a whole lot of fun. Kick off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona is at 8pm GMT, 9pm local. It’s on!