Barça enjoys and suffers to knock down Naples on the way to the quarterfinals
The ‘culers’ return to the European elite after three years of absence
BARCELONA, 12 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
FC Barcelona beat Napoli (3-1) this Tuesday at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, in the second leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League, and thus achieved a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. ‘, after three years of absence, with a very serious game in which they knew how to suffer at some moments to, in many others, enjoy and convince themselves that they can return to the continental elite.
Barça came out to bite and had several early chances that, unlike other games, turned into two goals. Barça looked a little more like the one they marveled at years ago and, bridging the gap and knowing that they are still not where they should be, they managed to withstand the Neapolitan challenge – which was close to tying – and take control of the game again and of the crossing to get into the quarterfinals.
Barça continues to dream of achieving a ‘Champions’ in this time of economic hardship and suffering to sign and register players. Being in the quarterfinals already gives the club more financial freedom, but the truth is that that dream is won on the pitch and, tonight, Xavi Hernández’s team fulfilled what was asked of them and more than. A 3-1 to continue growing, to believe, to hope that Friday’s draw is benevolent.
With Fermín López starting and leading the way in the first half, with a brutal Pau Cubarsí the entire game – despite the fact that he committed a penalty that was not called – on a defensive level and when the ball was released, with Raphinha very enthusiastic and a Gündogan of Less than more, Barça enjoyed it. And he did it with Robert Lewandowski’s final goal that put away the ghosts of the Muntanya Màgica.
Fermín and Cancelo, in the 15th and 17th minutes, made things easy. The youth midfielder warned with a deflected shot, of some danger, before managing to open the scoring with a low shot, crossed, from a pass from Raphinha that was impossible for Meret. And the Italian goalkeeper couldn’t do anything either when, after Raphinha sent a ball to the post, Cancelo collected the rebound to score into an empty goal. Great omens that, despite going down a winding path, came true.
Napoli, who equalized after half an hour of play, made things difficult again. But this time Xavi’s changes, having a cool head and knowing how to suffer to regain control allowed the ‘culer’ team to relive not recent nightmares in ‘Champions’ but the nights of comebacks and epic victories. And Sergi Roberto, hero against PSG in that 6-1 at the Camp Nou, this time also put on the cape to assist ‘Lewangol’, who collected the gift.
There were gaps. In fact, in the 60th minute of the game, after a bad start to the second half by the Blaugrana and two big scares in the form of a very dangerous shot by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and a possible penalty by Pau Cubarsí, Xavi Hernández chose to move pieces, without touching a lot of the scheme. But the entrances of Oriol Romeu and Sergi Roberto for Andreas Christensen, who was cautioned, and an exhausted Fermín allowed Gündogan to move up to midfield.
Napoli’s offensive bleeding stopped with these changes. And Barça, recovering the ball a little, had some action. Not very dangerous, but enough to calm the Neapolitans, take a breath and try to believe again that, with the ball and being offensive, they were closer to the quarterfinals than by not being left behind supporting Ter Stegen.
And Gündogan once again showed that he is more dangerous and effective when he plays closer to attacking positions. This time he sent a ball between the lines to captain Sergi Roberto and he, who played a great game in the little time he was on the field after not playing since mid-January, left it on a plate for Robert Lewandowski so that the Polish ‘killer’ do what you do best; pierce the rival network.
A goal that sealed the match and the tie. A goal that gave Barça wings and sank the numerous Neapolitan fans, who saw their team come close to tying in some isolated play and who, after the 3-1, also saw a shot hit the crossbar that could still have changed the things. But it was not like that, and Barça was also able to increase the score even further, which no longer moved.
Barça needed, and Xavi requested it in the run-up, a magical night in Montjuïc and Barça lived it. He believed in himself, he had electric moments and immaculate high pressure, with offensive success, and he also knew how to suffer to go to the quarterfinals four years later. Barça is once again among the eight best in Europe after eating, very comfortably, a ‘Margherita’ in Montjuïc.
–RESULT: FC BARCELONA, 3 – NAPLES, 1 (2-1, at halftime).
FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Koundé, Araujo, Cubarsi, Cancelo; Christensen (Oriol Romeu, 60th minute), Fermin (Sergi Roberto, 60th minute), Gündogan; Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski and Raphinha (John Felix, min.81).
NAPLES: Meret; Di Lawrence, Rrahmani, John Jesus, Mario Rui (Olivera, min.64); Zambo Anguissa, Lobotka, Traore (Raspadori, min.78); Politano (Lindstrom, 64 minutes), Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia (Ngonge, 90 minutes 2).
1-0. Min.15, Fermin.
2-0. Min.17, Cancel.
2-1. Min. 30, Rrahmani.
3-1. Min.83, Lewandowski.
–REFEREE: Danny Makkelie (NED). He cautioned Christensen (min.21) and Lamine Yamal (min.44) at FC Barcelona and Juan Jesus (min.45 3), Traorè (min.63) and Olivera (min.67) at Napoli.
— STADIUM: Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, 50,301 spectators.
