Barcelona’s Argentine striker Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League … [+]
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On Saturday at Camp Nou, FC Barcelona have faced Napoli in their last 16 Champions League return matches. Here is the result, what happened and what we learned.
Quique Setien’s first XI was as expected
Ivan Rakitic intervenes for the suspended Sergio Busquets as a pivot, there was no start for Riqui Puig while Frenkie de Jong and Sergi Roberto teamed up with the Croatian in midfield.
Antoine Griezmann returned from injury, to form a front line with Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi in the consecrated 4-3-3.
An advantage in 10 minutes
It was a rough start, and by the time Clement Lenglet got up to meet Rakitic’s cross and headed David Ospina, the Blaugrana were already winning 2-1 overall with an away goal of the first leg.
The VAR checked for fouls in the middle of the arlyy-bargey in and around the box, and to be fair there was one via a blatant push from the defender on his marker, but the goal was still valid.
Magic of Messi
They say number 10 is determined to lift Ol ‘Big Ears once again, and at 23 minutes, he showed him with a rough, rough run into the box from the right wing that saw him fight and then finally fire a shot inside. bottom left of the onion bag.
Let the record prove that De Jong, Rakitic and Suarez also deserve credit for their clear step into the lineup.
Then there were three … almost
It took less than 10 minutes for Messi to double his account. Defeating a De Jong high ball on the edge of the six-yard, VAR was consulted for an age to see if the Ballon d’Or winner could handle it before smashing his effort at home. He was deemed to have done so, and so the strike was canceled. Still 2-0.
Culers got a real scare
When Messi fell in the 40th minute for a while. Neither he nor Kalidou Koulibaly were guilty of the collision, as the Argentinian attempted to steal the ball in the center back from behind and the latter kicked out trying to make a pass. There was a lengthy penalty check that eventually required the referee to watch a TV himself, before a weak spot kick was subsequently awarded.
Suarez took it and converted
Messi who allowed his close Uruguayan friend to do the honors, was 3-0 on the verge of half-time with Setien’s men in cruise control.
Rakitic allowed Napoli to withdraw one before the whistle
By smashing Dries Mertens with a stab in the ankles, Rakitic facilitated Lorenzo Insigne’s consolation when the Italian national cooly stashed his penalty behind Ter Stegen. 3-1 at night and 4-2 overall. Cause for concern? To say that Barça had never allowed such a cushion to deflate in previous editions of the tournament would be hiding the truth a bit …
End at the end after the intermission
The visitors needed it to mount a legitimate comeback and the hosts another to try and put the draw further out of reach. The final product was quick, attacking the football from every side which was thrilling to watch.
65 minutes and still no signs of slowing down
No sign of change from Setien. In an ideal world, Messi would be hooked to rest for a potential quarter-final, but if all went wrong, the manager would have been unemployed by the end of the week for such a catastrophe.
In the 70th minute, there was a fright and then a relief when Hirving Lozano found acres of space but failed to hit Insigne’s bullet past Ter Stegen. Then another on 81 when Arkadiusz Milik did what Lozano could not do but his goal was ruled offside in the fraction.
Possession went to Napoli at the height of the drink break
A split from 47% to 53% to be precise: a rarity at Camp Nou and certainly something that detractors would have picked up on later.
Monchu was granted his first team and Champions League debut
Protagonist ahead of Puig on the continent, the rookie of team B has replaced Griezmann.
Lozano hit the post
Also with pumpkin, the Mexican star of the 2018 World Cup caused Ter Stegen to panic. It was, however, from a tight angle and the doorman seemed to have covered it.
Five minutes of recovery
Though the concentration couldn’t falter, it now seemed unlikely that Napoli could get two, as Suarez was supplanted by a Junior Firpo perhaps on his last outing at home with Barça. The Catalans weathered the storm and tickets to Portugal could already be booked on the whistle full time.
Off to Lisbon the Blaugrana go
Where they will meet a Bayern Munich team that has destroyed Chelsea 7-1 in two matches. In the one-and-out format of the Final 8, Barça can only play this single match against the Bavarian kings, who are among the favorites to go all the way. But with Messi in top shape and on a mission, they have a fighting chance.
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