Napoli and Barcelona clashed in a tense 1-1 draw during the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, with Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen securing the equalizer.
All to play for in Barcelona! 👊#UCL pic.twitter.com/u6Vo5UUiKE
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 21, 2024
In a match that saw Barcelona dominate the first half, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski put Barca ahead in the 60th minute, only for Osimhen to level the score 15 minutes later with a skillful swiveling strike.
Barcelona, currently struggling in LaLiga, expressed disappointment in the result, with manager Xavi Hernandez noting, “It is not a good result for the return leg.” Despite their dominance in various aspects of the game, Barcelona failed to capitalize on their chances, mirroring the challenges faced throughout their season.
The match marked Barcelona’s return to the Champions League knockout stage after a three-year absence, while Napoli, led by new coach Francesco Calzona, faced Barca with their Serie A title defense in jeopardy, sitting ninth in the domestic standings.
Barcelona’s high pressing frustrated Napoli, leading to missed passes and turnovers. The youngest player in the Champions League knockout phase, Lamine Yamal, attempted to become the tournament’s youngest scorer but had early efforts denied by Napoli’s goalkeeper, Alex Meret.
Despite Lewandowski breaking the deadlock for Barcelona, Napoli’s coach, Calzona, praised his team’s fighting spirit, saying, “We have a lot of work to do, but I congratulated the team for rediscovering the desire to fight.” The return leg in Spain on March 12 promises an intriguing matchup as both teams strive for advancement in the Champions League.