After a four-year wait, Barcelona rejoice a return to Champions League knockout success with a 3-1 victory over Napoli on Tuesday, securing their spot within the quarterfinals.
Goals from Fermin Lopez, Joao Cancelo and Robert Lewandowski secured a 4-2 combination win, whereas Amir Rrahmani scored for Napoli, who couldn’t replicate final season’s quarterfinal look.
“It was an incredible night,” Barcelona midfielder Sergi Roberto stated. “It had been four years since this club was where they deserve to be. We have to enjoy this moment.”
In the opposite Champions League match on Tuesday, Arsenal eradicated Porto in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 combination draw.
The Champions League could possibly be Barcelona’s final sensible likelihood for a title this season. They had been eradicated within the Copa del Rey and path Spanish league chief Real Madrid by seven factors. Coach Xavi Hernandez already introduced they’ll go away on the finish of the season.
“It was a great match, very complete,” Xavi stated. “We have been criticized unfairly, and today we showed that this team is prepared to compete in Europe. We are among the best eight teams in Europe. We have to enjoy it.”
The victory additionally means additional revenue for Barcelona, which have been struggling financially just lately.
The Catalan membership are unbeaten in six conferences with Napoli in all competitions.
They struggled to maintain the Italian facet from threatening after taking the early lead at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, making his a hundredth UEFA look, was examined typically by Napoli’s assault.
Barcelona had a couple of possibilities to extend their lead on counterattacks earlier than Lewandowski sealed the win from shut vary within the 83rd after an help by substitute Roberto. Lewandowski has scored 13 targets in his final 13 knockout stage video games within the Champions League.
Lopez put the hosts forward with a shot from the center of the realm within the fifteenth minute after a low cross by Raphinha, who additionally arrange Cancelo’s objective two minutes later. The Brazil ahead hit the submit from inside the realm and the ball bounced again for a simple strike by Cancelo.
Napoli acquired on the board within the thirtieth, with Rrahmani discovering the online with a low left-footed shot for his first European objective.
“We gave them too much space, we lost possession often, we started with the wrong attitude and didn’t defend well,” Napoli coach Francesco Calzona stated.
Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal had a objective disallowed for offside within the 68th.
The final time Barcelona performed within the quarterfinals, that they had additionally eradicated Napoli 4-2 on combination within the spherical of 16.
Xavi nonetheless couldn’t rely on a number of gamers due to accidents, together with Pedri, Frenkie De Jong, and Ferran Torres.
They performed with 17-year-old Pau Cubarsi as a central defender, and {the teenager} was named the person of the match as he helped comprise Napoli’s assault in his European debut.
The different groups which have superior to the final eight embrace Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.
Source: www.dailysabah.com