FC Barcelona reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2020. The five-time winner of the premier class beat SSC Napoli 3-1 (2-1) in the second leg of the round of 16 with German national players Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Ilkay Gündogan on Tuesday evening (March 12, 2024). The first leg in Italy ended 1-1. Late in the evening, Arsenal FC also qualified, defeating FC Porto 5-2 on penalties.
Fermin Lopez (15th) and former Munich players Joao Cancelo (17th) and Robert Lewandowski (83rd) made the Catalans cheer. The subsequent goal from Amir Rrahmani (30th) was not enough for Naples to advance to the last eight for the second time.
Round of 16 arrow right
Barca scores, but Napoli come back
Barca had control of the action in the Olympic Stadium from the start. Winger Raphinha used Lopez exemplary before the opening goal and the young Spaniard finished carefully, Rrahmani had canceled the offside. Cancelo was there quickly after a counterattack and Raphinha’s shot at the post and made the early decision.
But Napoli got back into the game thanks to a mistake from Cancelo, who gave up his position. The advanced central defender Rrahmani evaded Gündogan and shot in beyond the reach of Ter Stegen. The captain and goalkeeper prevented Giovanni Di Lorenzo from equalizing (34′). Lewandowski (45th + 4) missed the opportunity to restore the old distance.
Teenager Yamal scores – but offside
In the second half, the visitors pushed for an equalizer, which gave Barca opportunities. The striking Raphinha (55th) failed. Teenager Lamine Yamal (16) was offside when he scored (68th) – he would have been the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Champions League.
Former Frankfurt player Jesper Lindström (80th) missed the best chance to equalize with his head before Lewandowski made the decision after preparation from Gündogan and Sergi Roberto. Another Italian club was happy about Napoli’s exit: record champions Juventus Turin qualified for the 2025 Club World Cup in the USA.
Arsenal/Porto win on penalties
Arsenal FC was later able to end its Champions League round of 16 trauma. The Gunners beat FC Porto 4-2 on penalties in the second leg. After regular time and extra time the score was 1-0. This meant Arsenal reached the quarter-finals of the premier class for the first time since 2010. The Londoners had previously failed in the first knockout round seven times in a row. The team around German international Kai Havertz lost the first leg 0-1.
Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard celebrates.
Havertz converted confidently in the penalty shootout, but former Leverkusen player Wendell missed when he was denied by David Raya. Then the Spaniard also parried against Galeno and became the Gunners’ hero. Leandro Trossard (41st) scored the hosts’ goal in the game. Arsenal could also face German record champions Bayern Munich in Friday’s draw.
From the start in London it was a fast-paced encounter with opportunities on both sides. Trossard took the lead shortly before halftime. In the second half, Arsenal built up more pressure after a short initial phase, but the English Premier League leaders missed a few opportunities. Only the penalty shootout brought the decision.
