Lewandowski (right) scored the third goal for Barcelona, and Al-Amin Jamal (left) shined in the match (Getty)
Barcelona reached the quarter-finals in the Champions League for the first time since the 2019-2020 season, after defeating its guest Napoli 3-1 on Tuesday at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuïc in the second leg of the 16th round after a 1-1 draw in the first leg.
The Catalan team was able to achieve its first victory in the knockout rounds after 4 matches, of which it tied two and lost the same, for the first time also since its victory over Napoli in particular 3-1 in the second leg of the last 16 in the 2019-2020 season.
Fermin Lopez (15), Portuguese Joao Cancelo (17), Polish Robert Lewandowski (83) scored for Barcelona, and Kosovar Amir Rahmani (30) scored for Naples.
Barcelona started the match with promising youngsters Al-Amin Djamal (16 years old) and Pau Cobarsi (17 years old), becoming the first team to start a match with two players under the age of 17 in a Champions League knockout match, according to Opta statistics.
Summary of the Barcelona vs. Napoli match
Lopez opened the scoring easily after receiving a pass from Brazilian Rafinha on the left side (15).
Fermín Lopez opens the scoring for Barcelona 🔥⚽️#UEFA_Champions_League |
#Barcelona_Napoli pic.twitter.com/oNCyO3SfVw
- beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) March 12, 2024
Cancelo only neglected the visitors for two minutes to accommodate the delay in the score, and he hit them with the second after following a shot from Rafinha that bounced off the left post, following a pass he received from Jamal, who led a counterattack (17).
🔥⚽️ Cancelo doubles the score for Barcelona and increases Napoli's troubles #UEFA_Champions_League |
#Barcelona_Napoli #UCL |
#beINUCL pic.twitter.com/TPjRGEZIsp
- beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) March 12, 2024
Napoli responded through Rahmani with a coordinated attack that reached Matteo Politano, who passed it on the right side to the former, shooting to the right of German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen (30).
🔥⚽️ Amir Rahmani reduces the difference for Napoli #UEFA_Champions_League |
#Barcelona_Napoli #UCL |
#beINUCL pic.twitter.com/RTkAE1yyiK
- beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) March 12, 2024
The Catalan team's goalkeeper saved his own goal from a second goal after he brilliantly blocked a header from advanced right-back Giovanni Di Lorenzo (35).
The visitors entered the second half by pressing quickly, and Georgian Khvisha Kvaratskhelia tried to score with a shot on the outskirts of the area that passed next to the left post (47).
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez tried to control the midfield and brought on Sergi Roberto and Oriol Romeo (minute 60), while Napoli coach Francesco Calzona brought on Danish midfielder Jesper Lindstrom and Uruguayan left back Matias Oliveira (64).
Goalkeeper Alex Merritt blocked a shot from a free kick executed by Rafinha and it went to a corner (67), which almost resulted in a goal through Al-Amin Gamal, but the referee did not count it as offside (68).
Rafinha tried again, but the goalkeeper blocked his shot on the left side (77), before Jamal tried in turn from the right with a beautiful shot that passed next to the right post (78).
Lindstrom missed the opportunity to equalize the score with a header close to the left post, which Ter Stegen merely observed (80).
🔥⚽️ A wonderful team game that resulted in a third goal for Barcelona #UEFAChampionsLeague |
#Barcelona_Napoli #UCL |
#beINUCL pic.twitter.com/8XvCxvNrZl
- beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) March 12, 2024
Lewandowski decided Barcelona's victory after an exchange of the ball between Roberto and German Ilkay Gundogan, and it reached the substitute to Lewandowski, who followed it into the goal (83).
Jamal searched for his first goal in the most prestigious European competition after a counterattack with a final shot that was blocked by the goalkeeper (90+2).
Source: French