Barcelona put in a great performance to win 4-2 at its host Napoli on Thursday, and qualifies for the quarter-finals of the European Football Championship, after winning 5-3 on the aggregate score.
At the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, the stronghold of Naples, the players of Barcelona and Napoli before the match raised a large banner that read: "Stop the war."
The irony is that the match was run by a Russian referee team led by Sergey Karasev, who was standing several meters behind the two teams.
Barcelona and Napoli players before their encounter in the European League raise a banner:
Stop the war.
The funny thing is that the match was administered by a Russian referee team led by Sergei Karasev.
pic.twitter.com/3wYvDVk5bl
- Al Jazeera - Sports (@AJASports) February 24, 2022
Jordi Alba gave Barcelona the lead in the eighth minute of the play-off second leg, and Frenkie de Jong boosted the visitors' lead with a superb shot after a back-heeled pass from Ferran Torres.
Frenkie de Jong scores an amazing goal for Barcelona 😲👌 #European_League #Napoli_Barcelona pic.twitter.com/t7gesZDG9P
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) February 24, 2022
Lorenzo Insigne revived Napoli's hopes with a penalty kick, but Gerard Pique restored Barcelona's lead by two goals before the break.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang added Barcelona's fourth goal, scoring his fourth goal in two matches, after his hat-trick against Valencia in the league last Sunday.
Matteo Politano reduced the difference for Napoli 3 minutes before the end.
⏰ RESULTS ⏰
✅ Barcelona, Betis, and Rangers reach the last 16
*Braga and Sheriff to play extra-time#UEL pic.twitter.com/TMx6ZxjMI3
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) February 24, 2022
Rangers qualify for Barcelona
Rangers joined Barcelona in the last eight after a 2-2 draw with its guest, Borussia Dortmund, to qualify after winning 6-4 on the aggregate score.
Real Betis also reached the same round, after imposing a 0-0 draw at its guest Zenit St Petersburg, to win 3-2 in the aggregate of the two legs.
Four goals to choose from.
A, B, C or D?
⚽️🤔@Heineken |
#UELGOTW |
#UEL
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) February 24, 2022
Earlier, 6-times champion Seville struggled to qualify for the round of 16 after losing 1-0 to its host Dinamo Zagreb, and survived after a tense end with 10 players, to outperform 3-2 on the aggregate score.
Seville seemed to be on its way to a 0-0 draw in the second leg of the play-off before Marcos Acuña touched the ball with his hand, and Mislav Orcic scored a successful penalty kick in the 65th minute.
Thomas Delaney was sent off in the 91st minute, and Dynamo pressured the Spanish team in the penalty area within 6 minutes of added time, until his goalkeeper advanced in a late free kick, but he was unable to reach extra time.
⏰ RESULTS ⏰
✅ Sevilla, Atalanta, Leipzig and Porto through to the last 16 #UEL pic.twitter.com/WCNGLKhj3q
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) February 24, 2022
Porto escaped from extra time to qualify for the round of 16 after a 2-2 draw with Lazio, to win 4-3 on the aggregate score.
Porto's double came through Mahdi Tarmi from a penalty kick in the first half, and Mateus Uribe in the second half, after Ciro Immobile put Lazio in the lead.
The Portuguese team faced a difficult end after its Italian hosts equalized through Danilo Cataldi in the fourth minute of overtime.
Razen Bale Sport Leipzig beat Real Sociedad 3-1 to win 5-3 on aggregate, while Atlanta crushed Olympiacos 3-0 to confirm their 5-1 victory.