UEFA Champions League: Arsenal, Barcelona fight for Europe survival

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka (right) in action against Porto.[Courtesy,X]

English Premier League leaders Arsenal will on Tuesday night hope to transform their league form into the UEFA Champions League when they host Portuguese giants Porto in the return leg of the last-16 tie to be played at Emirates Stadium from 11pm EAT.

Brazilian winger Galeno scored a last minute stunner as Porto stole a 1-0 lead over Arsenal during the first leg played two weeks ago.

Mikel Arteta will be hoping his side can replicate their league form in Europe. They are currently on an eight-game winning streak and sit top of the Premier League table.

The Spaniard urged the club supporters to cheer the team to victory in the Champions League.

“Bring your noise, bring your energy, your passion into that stadium and something beautiful is going to happen,” Mikel said on Saturday after Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Brentford.

Arsenal have won only one of their last nine matches in the Champions League round of 16, failing to secure a two-goal victory could mean they will be eliminated at this stage for the eighth time in a row. They last made a quarter-final appearance in the 2009/10 season when they faced Barcelona.

The two sides have met on seven occasions, both winning three games part and they have drawn once. Tuesday’s clash will determine which of them will go ahead in the head-to-head stats.

Meanwhile, FC Barcelona plays arguably their most important game of the season when they entertain Napoli in the return leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday night.

Not only is the club's pride and image at stake after having failed to reach the knockout stage of the competition in the past two years, but its economic future is also on the line.

Barca's budget for the 2023-24 season depends on reaching the quarterfinals, and given that further cutbacks in spending will come this summer, defeat to Napoli would be a serious blow to its future plans.

Barcelona midfielder Pedri (center) in action against Napoli.[Courtesy,X]

The good news for Barca coach Xavi Hernandez and president Joan Laporta is that the team produced one of its best displays in recent weeks in Italy three weeks ago. The bad news is that Frenkie de Jong and Pedri will miss Tuesday's game through injury, robbing Xavi of balance and options to rotate his side.

Brazilian winger Raphinha began Friday's 1-0 win at home to Mallorca in midfield, only to limp off and be replaced by Fermin Lopez before halftime with an ankle problem.

Raphinha should be able to play on Tuesday, while Ferran Torres is also working hard to recover from a hamstring injury to take some part in the game.

Robert Lewandowski was rested at the weekend and will replace teenager Marc Guiu in attack, but with Alejandro Balde, Marcos Alonso and Gavi all long-term injuries, the subs' bench looks threadbare.

Young defender Pau Cubarsi impressed again at the weekend and could keep his place, and it means that Ronald Araujo, who returns after suspension, will either replace Inigo Martinez in central defense, or Jules Kounde on the right.

Napoli was in turmoil three weeks ago, with the club sacking Walter Mazzarri and naming Francesco Calzona as his replacement just two days before the 1-1 draw in the first leg.

Calzona has overseen an upturn in form, with two draws and two wins since his arrival, and that is something Barca needs to be aware of