If you’ve been living under a rock the past two months and have no idea what’s going on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. EST, well, get excited. Napoli will be hosting Barcelona at the famous (or infamously crumbling) San Paolo stadium. And if you don’t understand the significance of this, then you know what? Too bad, we can’t be friends.
Because I am JACKED UP. I’ve been looking at pics and watching videos non stop the past couple of days. Of Messi/Maradona, of Maradona, of Napoli in Champions League. Here are just a few to give you an idea:
The epitome of history.
Past & Present.
Napoli & Barça.
Back on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/P1sw9vvLvG— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 23, 2020
The San Paolo making football history #Maradona #Messi
— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) February 23, 2020
And who cares might you ask? Everybody that’s who.
Obviously, there’s the ongoing debate about who’s the best ever, Maradona or Messi. I’m not mentioning Cristiano here so you trolls can save it.
Maradona played for Barcelona back in the day in 1982 until he infamously left after his fallout, which resulted from the 1984 Copa del Rey final brawl against Athletic Bilbao that broke out after Maradona lost it because of the injury he received from “The Butcher of Bilbao,” Andoni Goikoetxea (Goiko) the previous game he played against them.
He could’ve been an MMA fighter; look at this knockout:
35 years ago today Diego Maradona turned into the Karate Kid, sparking out the Bilbao keeper, and causing a riot during the Copa Del Rey final.
Bring yer fuckin’ dinner.pic.twitter.com/i83tH6Dcgd— Proper Football (@sid_lambert) May 5, 2019
BOOM.
So since no club wanted to touch him after the trouble he caused Barcelona, he miraculously landed in Napoli after they barely avoided relegation. To give you an idea, these days that’s like Messi going to Fiorentina and then winning two championships and a UEFA Cup. Basically without a supporting cast. Crazy.
So basically, what I’m saying is he’s a demi-god in Naples:
Monument to Maradona @ Napoli : includes reliquia such as a framed miraculous hair pic.twitter.com/BXwZG8Su5o
— Finchelstein (@FinchelsteinF) December 18, 2018
Hell, look at the new seats in the stadium. What colors do you see?
Built in 1959. Capacity 80,000.
Roof added for Italia '90.
Renovated this summer.
2 maxiscreens added.
Dressing rooms looking great. #NapLiv#NapoliLiverpool#StadioSanPaolo pic.twitter.com/S6XxiTiSDr— MMXX (@BlackFelixCat) September 16, 2019
Blue, white and tiny flecks of gold. Argentina colors. This may as well be Messi’s second home.
And look, all us Napoli fans know what this is. We know what we’re getting into. We know in all likelihood this game is going to be like watching your own funeral, in your own home. And you know what? We’re OK with that. Hell, we even cheer for Messi when he comes to town.
Gee, who just arrived in Naples pic.twitter.com/HCbk3D4qXs
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 24, 2020
Honestly, I laughed when the draw came out. I mean what the hell else am I supposed to do? Sure, Roma came back to beat them once upon a time in Champions League. But we suck in Serie A right now. Somehow we keep winning in the Coppa Italia, but whatever that’s neither here nor there.
Of course I want a win, but let’s be real, I’m fully expecting a 3-0 loss. Yeah we beat Liverpool, but this is different. The symbolism of Messi coming to Naples is too much for him to not have adrenaline shooting through his veins, not even considering the revenge he wants after losing to Liverpool last year.
So what I’m going to do is bring my Napoli scarf to work Tuesday, hang it on my chair, and hope it gives me luck. Crazier things have happened right?
