Barcelona vs Napoli: Xavi Provides Crucial Aubameyang Update Ahead of Europa League Tie

• He’s very professional, Xavi says of Aubameyang ahead of UEL clash vs Napoli
• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is available to feature in the Europa League knockout tie against Napoli
• Barca boss Xavi confirmed the Gabon international will likely play in the first leg set to take place at the Nou Camp on Thursday, 17 February
• This is the first time Barcelona are playing a European knockout tie outside the Champions League since 2003

Barcelona boss Xavi has provided an injury update on January signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ahead of the Europa League clash against Napoli.

The Catalan giants find themselves in unfamiliar territory after dramatically slipping to the second tier competition after finishing third in Group E of the Champions League, behind Bayern Munich and Benfica.

In their first European tie below the Champions League since 2003, Barcelona have been boosted by the availability of Aubameyang, who is all too familiar with the competition.

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"Aubameyang is good, and he trains really well," said Xavi as quoted by BBC.

"He's a player who can make a difference, he works well in spaces and makes good runs into the area.

"He's put in performances in recent years that have been very good. I'm very happy with him, he's working positively in our group, and he's very professional."

“An opportunity”

Having dropped to the Europa League, Xavi now says the competition offers an opportunity and another route to Champions League qualification next season.

Winners of the Europa League usually get a direct ticket to Europe’s elite club competition the following season.

"It's an opportunity," said Xavi. "The main objective for the season is to get into the Champions League for next year and there are two ways - finish in the top four in the league or win the Europa League.

There is a new format this season as the winner of the two-legged tie between Barcelona and Napoli will face a side that won their Europa League group in the last 16.

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Napoli will by no means be a pushover in the game, as Luciano Spaletti’s side will go looking for only their fourth major trophy, excluding Italian cups.

Liverpool beat Inter in Champions league first leg

In the Champions League, Liverpool emerged 2-0 winners over Inter Milan on Wednesday, 16 February thanks to late goals from Roberton Firmino and Mohammed Salah.

It almost looked like the Reds were going to settle for a stalemate in Italy, until Firmino headed his side into the lead from an Andy Robertson corner.

Salah made sure of the result with a deflected effort inside the box eight minutes later to give his side a huge advantage ahead of the second leg at Anfield.