Barca best in Europe, says Mazzarri

Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri said Barcelona are an unstoppable force on their way to winning the Champions League.

Barca booked their place in the quarter-finals with a stunning 7-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night, completing a 10-2 aggregate win over their German opponents.

Former Germany international Rudi Voller said that he feels Napoli are the only side capable of preventing the Catalans from defending their European title, but that is not a view shared by Mazzarri.

“I thank him (for the compliment) but that the Spaniards at this moment remain elusive,” he told reporters at a press conference on Thursday.

“They are on another level.”

Mazzarri is more preoccupied with ensuring that his side qualify for the quarter-finals, as they are due in London next week for the second leg of their intriguing last-16 tie with Chelsea.

Napoli will take a 3-1 advantage with them to Stamford Bridge but Mazzarri is not expecting his troops to sail through, particularly in light of the almighty scare Arsenal gave AC Milan at the Emirates on Tuesday.

“It will be tough, as we saw from how Milan suffered against Arsenal,” he said.

“And our opponents, I think, are even stronger than (Arsene) Wenger’s team.”

Before they can turn their attention to European affairs, though, Napoli must first take on Serie A rivals Cagliari at the San Paolo on Friday.