Barça’s opponents in the return leg of their last 16 Champions League draw against Napoli won Saturday 2-0 in the Serie A match against Sassuolo. The team has been coached by Gennaro Gattuso he returned to winning after Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat in Parma, which ended their unbeaten game in five games in the Italian league.
The Neapolitan team took the lead already after eight minutes of play with a strike by the Albanian defender Elseid Hysaj. Visitors thought they drew a few minutes before the break, but the effort was banned after a VAR review. In the second half Politano hit the post for Napoli before Sassuolo had a second goal canceled by VAR. In an injury at the end of the second half, the Brazilian midfielder Allan secured the three points with a second for the home team who was without the former Athletic, Tottenham and Juventus striker Fernando Llorente and Mario Rui.
Napoli remains safe in seventh place in the standings knowing they already have a place in next season’s Europa League after winning this season’s Coppa Italia. In the remaining two Serie A games they will face Inter and Lazio before the date of August 8 against Barça at Camp Nou to decide their last 16 draw, which currently stands at 1-1 after their return to Naples in February.
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