In its natural place: Barcelona advanced to the quarter-finals

Champions League 23-24

Game board

The return matches in the round of 16 of the Champions League continued tonight (Tuesday), with Barcelona beating Napoli 1:3 and qualifying for the quarterfinals for the first time since the 2019/20 season. The Blaugrana, who are in the middle of a bad season in the league and were kicked out of the Spanish Cup, returned to their natural place when they managed to advance in a factory where they failed to pass the group stage in the last two years and it should be their main focus point until the end of the season.

The game opened with a good performance by the hosts, who, as in the first game, pressed in the opening minutes, but this time they also got their money’s worth in a big way. Fermin Lopes, who was very active, scored already in the 15th minute, in the 17th minute Rafinha kicked a ball that rattled the crossbar and Joao Cancelo grabbed the rebound and signed two minutes in heaven for the host with a double advantage. The guest did not sound desperate and showed good ability despite the deficit, when Amir Rahmani went all the way from the defense to the depth of the box, finished like a striker and reduced the score to 2:1 in the 30th minute.

Back from the break, the game was balanced when both teams reached good situations. Jasper Lindström missed a huge opportunity to equalize in the 80th minute and was punished three minutes later, when Ilkay Gondwan’s masterful pass found Sergi Roberto in front of Alex Mert, the Spaniard crossed to Robert Lewandowski, who rolled in in front of an open net and made it 1:3 for the Catalans at the end.

Robert Lewandowski celebrates qualifying for the next level (Reuters)Robert Lewandowski celebrates qualifying for the next level (Reuters)

Now, Xavi’s team will wait to find out who their possible opponents will be in the quarter-finals as they also face an important top game in the Spanish league where they will be hosted by Atlético Madrid in the next round. On the other hand, the outgoing Italian champion will also go out on a particularly difficult field and will meet the Italian champion on the road, Inter, at San Siro when the Neapolitans have ten rounds left to regain the lost honor and try to qualify for Europe through the league.

Facing the rest of the season in the Champions League, Barca players are happy at the end (Reuters)Facing the rest of the season in the Champions League, Barca players are happy at the end (Reuters)

second half

  • ’90+4
  • Judge's decision
  • The final whistle! Referee Danny McKelly sealed the match in the end Barcelona won 1:3 and qualified for the quarter finals
  • ’90+3
  • spare
  • Substitution in Napoli: Hbitza Cavaratzhalya was replaced by Cyril Ngunga
Robert Lewandowski and the Barcelona players celebrate qualifying for the quarter-finals (Reuters)Robert Lewandowski and Barcelona players celebrate (Reuters)
  • ’83
  • Gate
  • Gate! Barcelona went up 1:3: Gondwan’s master shot found Roberto in front of Mert, the Spaniard passed to Lewandowski who rolled in lightly in front of an open net
  • ’80
  • acidification
  • An excellent lift from Olivera found the head of Lindström who was completely free, but he missed a huge chance for goal
  • ’78
  • spare
  • Substitution in Napoli: Giacomo Raspadori replaced Hamed Traore
  • ’78
  • acidification
  • Conquering the Blaugrana’s attacks in these minutes, Gondwan found Yamal alone on the right side of the box, the young Spaniard turned a kick, but missed the goal frame from close range
Ronald Araujo and Pau Cobarsi in a joint defensive operation (Reuters)Ronald Araujo and Pau Cobarsi in a joint defensive operation (Reuters)
Stanislav Lobotka guards Robert Lewandowski (Reuters)Stanislav Lobotka guards Robert Lewandowski (Reuters)
  • ’73
  • acidification
  • Gondwan took control of the ball from the air and kicked a surprising and powerful kick, but Mert headed to the corner
  • ’67
  • yellow card
  • Olivera, who had just entered, saw a yellow for a foul on the left wing
  • ’63
  • spare
  • Politano was replaced as well, Olivera coming on in his place
  • ’63
  • spare
  • Double substitution also for the guest: Mario Roy is replaced by Jasper Lindström
Pau Cobarsi in the fight against Victor Osiman (Reuters)Pau Cobarsi in the fight against Victor Osiman (Reuters)
  • ’62
  • acidification
  • A lack of coordination between Ter Stegen and Kobarsi as Politano’s cross falls to the feet of Osiman who is blocked, Zambo Angisa kicks the rebound, but it is also blocked
Xavi Hernandez on the bench (Reuters)Xavi on the bench (Reuters)
  • ’60
  • spare
  • Fermin Lopes is also replaced, Sergi Roberto enters in his place
  • ’60
  • spare
  • Double substitution in Barcelona: Oriol Romeu comes in at the expense of Andreas Christensen
Andros Christensen against Hamed Traurah (Reuters)Andros Christensen against Hamed Traurah (Reuters)
Fermin Lopes falls (Reuters)Fermin Lopes falls (Reuters)
  • ’54
  • acidification
  • Barcelona’s best move so far in the second half, Cancelo threw the defenders on the left wing and passed a cross to Mal who kicked hard at Mert from close range and was blocked
A fight between Andreas Christensen and Hvitza Kabratzhalia (Reuters)A fight between Andreas Christensen and Hvitza Kabratzhalia (Reuters)
  • ’47
  • acidification
  • Kabratzhalya unleashed a tremendous spinning kick from distance, but was unable to find the frame

first half

Juan Jesus sees yellow (Reuters)Juan Jesus sees yellow (Reuters)
  • ’45+1
  • yellow card
  • Jesus saw the visitor’s first yellow card after stopping Gundoin in a foul.
Fermin Lopes vs. Juan Jesos (Reuters)Fermin Lopes vs. Juan Jesus (Reuters)
  • ’44
  • yellow card
  • Yamal saw the second yellow card for Barcelona.
Lamin Yamal against Mario Roy (Reuters)Lamin Yamal against Mario Roy (Reuters)
  • ’33
  • acidification
  • Tremendous save by Ter Stegen who stretched his fingers and reached a very good shot by Di Lorenzo in the box
Amir Rahmani celebrates (Reuters)Amir Rahmani celebrates (Reuters)
Amir Rahmani celebrates a goal that gives Napoli hope (Reuters)Amir Rahmani celebrates a goal that gives Napoli hope (Reuters)
  • ’30
  • Gate
  • Gate! Napoli narrowed to 2:1: a smart deep ball reached Politano who infiltrated the area and passed an accurate cross, Rahmani the stopper found himself in a good position and scored a narrow goal
  • ’25
  • acidification
  • Cancelo tried to take advantage of the positive momentum, cut inside and unleashed a powerful kick from distance that went over the frame
  • ’19
  • yellow card
  • Christensen saw the first yellow card of the game for an aggressive start.
Joao Cancelo celebrates against a blown-out Montjuic (Reuters)Joao Cancelo celebrates against a blown-out Montjuic (Reuters)
Rafinha rattles the crossbar before Cancelo taps in the rebound (Reuters)Rafinha rattles the crossbar before Cancelo taps in the rebound (Reuters)
  • ’17
  • Gate
  • Gate! Barcelona took the lead 0:2: amazing! Rafinha sent in an excellent deep ball and one on one shook the crossbar, Joao Cancelo pounced on the rebound and kicked in. Within two minutes the Catalans doubled the advantage
Barcelona players celebrate with Fermin (Reuters)Barcelona players celebrate with Fermin (Reuters)
Fermin Lopes celebrates a winning goal (Reuters)Fermin Lopes celebrates a winning goal (Reuters)
  • ’15
  • Gate
  • Gate! Barcelona went up 0:1: a good deep ball found Rafinha who gave an accurate width and Fermin who finished coolly from 12 meters
  • ’13
  • acidification
  • A tremendous long ball by Covarassi found a good entry deep into Fermin, but he did not know how to finish a great situation against Mert
Victor Osiman vs. Ronald Araujo (Reuters)Victor Osiman vs. Ronald Araujo (Reuters)
  • ’8
  • acidification
  • Fermin took advantage of a slow reaction in the Napoli defense and entered the box, but released a kick that missed the frame.
  • ’1
  • acidification
  • Already after a minute, Barcelona’s move ended with Yamal’s kick over the goal from outside the box
  • ’1
  • Judge's decision
  • The opening whistle! The referee of the match Danny McCalley got the game started.
Hbitza Cabrazzaglia and Giovanni Di Lorenzo in the warm-up (Reuters)Hbitza Cabrazzaglia and Giovanni Di Lorenzo in the warm-up (Reuters)
Ronald Araujo briefs Lamin Yamal in the warm-up (Reuters)Ronald Araujo briefs Lamin Yamal in the warm-up (Reuters)
Barcelona fans are in a frenzy before the game (Reuters)Barcelona fans are in a frenzy before the game (Reuters)
Juan Laporte and Aurelio De Laurentiis before the match (Reuters)Juan Laporte and Aurelio De Laurentiis before the match (Reuters)

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