Messi Helps Barca Sink Napoli, Face Bayern Next
MADRID (Dispatches) - FC Barcelona booked their place in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League with a 3-1 win over Napoli at the Camp Nou Stadium on Saturday night.
Barca went into the game with the advantage of a 1-1 away draw in the first leg, but with question marks over their form in the last 11 weeks of Spain’s domestic season.
To further complicate matters, Barca coach Quique Setien was without midfielders Sergio Busquets and Arturo Vidal through suspension, although Frenkie De Jong returned after injury.
Napoli sounded a warning in the second minute of the game when Dreis Mertens hit the outside of the post, but Barca took the lead in the 15th minute after Clement Lenglet powered home a header from Ivan Rakitic’s corner.
It was 2-0 in the 23rd minute when Leo Messi’s persistence took him through three challenges before curling a left foot shot past David Ospina into the corner of the Napoli goal.
Messi thought he had added a third in the 30th minute, but his goal was ruled out by VAR after the ball had brushed his arm after he’d controlled it on his chest.
The disappointment didn’t last long as Messi’s quick thinking saw him nip in behind Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibali who accidently kicked him on the Achilles heel to concede a penalty.
Barca went into the game with the advantage of a 1-1 away draw in the first leg, but with question marks over their form in the last 11 weeks of Spain’s domestic season.
To further complicate matters, Barca coach Quique Setien was without midfielders Sergio Busquets and Arturo Vidal through suspension, although Frenkie De Jong returned after injury.
Napoli sounded a warning in the second minute of the game when Dreis Mertens hit the outside of the post, but Barca took the lead in the 15th minute after Clement Lenglet powered home a header from Ivan Rakitic’s corner.
It was 2-0 in the 23rd minute when Leo Messi’s persistence took him through three challenges before curling a left foot shot past David Ospina into the corner of the Napoli goal.
Messi thought he had added a third in the 30th minute, but his goal was ruled out by VAR after the ball had brushed his arm after he’d controlled it on his chest.
The disappointment didn’t last long as Messi’s quick thinking saw him nip in behind Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibali who accidently kicked him on the Achilles heel to concede a penalty.