Napoli denied requesting game v Barca to be called off
This Tuesday it was confirmed that the match between Barcelona and Napoli will be played behind closed doors. The Italian side, on social media, denied having asked the game to be postponed.
The match between Barcelona and Napoli in the return leg of the last 16 of the Champions League is full of intrigue. The match will be played behind closed doors after the decision of the Catalan government first and then the Spanish government afterwards.
Napoli have denied rumours saying that they wanted to get the match postponed because of the coronavirus. Via social media and after it was made official that the match would be held behind closed doors, the Italian outfit denied the rumours.
"Napoli denies reports claiming that the club has asked for the match against Barcelona to be postponed. The story is fake news. We support the decisions of the Italian government and of UEFA," the club said in a brief statement.
Napoli and Barcelona will look to try and book a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League next Wednesday. The side coached by Gattuso got a 1-1 draw at San Paolo in the first leg.
Barcelona are aware that playing without spectators affects them, especially when there were spectators in the first game. Therefore they are taking a Napoli side who are looking to cause an upset even more seriously.