Barcelona beat Napoli 3-1 this Tuesday at the Camp Nou in the second leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League, and after four years it went to the quarterfinals after 1-1 in the first leg played in Italy.
In the first half, Xavi Hernández’s team came out more determined in search of victory and would soon be rewarded after Raphinha left Fermín López facing the opening goal.
Two minutes later, when Napoli had not finished assimilating the disadvantage, Barcelona struck again: Lamine Yamal set up Raphinha against a sleeping visiting defense, the Brazilian’s shot shook a post, but the rebound was caught by the Portuguese João Cancelo for nail the second.
The match was intense. And when Napoli seemed on the verge of knockout, he managed to score after a run on the right by Politano and the surprise arrival of Kosovar Amir Rrahmani. In half an hour of play, the visitor stood up and put up a fight. Immediately, Ter Stegen drowned out the scream of Di Lorenzo, who was heading in full offensive position. Even so, Barcelona finished the first 45 minutes more aggressively and justified being ahead.
On the way back from the locker room, a half turn by the Georgian Kvaratskhelia paralyzed more than one culé heart. However, Barcelona looked better planted and a header from Robert Lewandowski after a corner found a response from Alex Meret, who rebounded and Yamil under the goal sent it to the back, although offside. The youth player later had two other chances, but could not defeat Meret. And the experienced Pole would have revenge.
Napoli was about to equalize, but Norwegian newcomer Lindstrom’s header lacked a little more fairness. But the Blaugrana dealt the final blow after a great play on the left in which the introduced Sergi Roberto left it to Lewandowski to settle the dispute and put the Catalans in the quarterfinals.
The Gunners spent in London
In another key, Arsenal beat Alan Varela’s Porto 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium in London and tied the series, but on penalties they beat the Portuguese 4-2 and after 14 years they returned to the top eight. .
The Portuguese team tried to maintain the slim advantage they gained at home in the first leg, but before half-time the home team took the lead with Belgian Leandro Trossard. At the end of the regulation 90, Varela – former Boca midfielder – suffered a muscle mishap and had to leave the field on a stretcher.
In the series of penalties, the Norwegian Martin Odegaard, the German Kai Havertz and the English Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice scored for Arsenal; For Porto, the Brazilian Pepe and the Serbian Marko Grujic scored, but the Brazilians Wendell and Galeno also failed.
Wednesday action
The Champions League will continue this Wednesday from 5 p.m. (Fox Sports) with a stellar duel between Atlético Madrid and Inter, which will feature the presence of four world champions.
At the Cívitas Metropolitano, Diego Simeone’s team, which includes Rodrigo De Paul, Nahuel Molina and Angel Correa, will seek to become stronger and reverse the 0-1 in the first leg at the hands of the team captained by Lautaro Martínez to have access to the quarterfinals .
Finally, Borussia Dortmund will also host goalkeeper Walter Benítez’s PSV from 5 p.m. (ESPN) to decide which one will advance, given that the first leg played in the Netherlands ended 1-1.
2024-03-13 03:01:00
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