Naples-Barcelona 1-1 Naples: Osimhen (75th) Barcelona: Lewandowski (60th) In a duel between sick teams, Naples and Barcelona were unable to decide between themselves in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League (1-1) . A nevertheless infuriating outcome for the Catalan club, generally dominant and rarely put in danger. The Neapolitans, for their first match under the orders of Francesco Calzona, are doing well.
On the pitch of Naples in crisis, Barça quickly took the game into their own hands. Led by Gundogan in the middle and the Yamal phenomenon on the right wing. The youngest player to play a Champions League knockout match (16 years and 223 days), the Catalan prodigy lit the first fuses (4th, 9th), while his elder Lewandowski came up against Meret (22nd). ). Clearly dominating during the first half hour, Xavi’s men took their footing as the break approached, allowing the Neapolitans to breathe and get their foot on the ball. A very timid response nonetheless (no typing for forty-five minutes).
Appointed Monday on the bench of the reigning Italian champion, Francesco Calzona, on loan from the Slovak selection until the end of the season, led only one training session on Tuesday. Far too short a time frame to see Walter Mazzari’s successor revolutionize everything. Arranged in a classic 4-3-3, Naples finally cracked on the hour mark, on a clinical sequence from Lewandowski in the area (0-1, 60th). This scenario left us fearing the worst for Naples, still as messy as ever. But against all expectations, Barça was surprised by the only shot on target from the local team. Osimhen, back from the CAN and long isolated at the forefront, freed his fans, scoring a powerful equalizing goal (1-1, 75th).
The match point missed by Gundogan at the end of added time (90th 4) can clearly reinforce the frustration felt by Barça at the end of the match. The Catalan club nevertheless took a (slight) option on qualification, three weeks before the return match scheduled in Montjuïc.
