Champions League, shock start costs Napoli dearly: Barcelona goes through
Champions League: Barcelona-Napoli 3-1, advance the blaugrana
Three minutes of blackout in the first half cost the Napoli very dearly, who despite their subsequent efforts to try to come back lose 3-1 in the temporary home of Barcelona, the Montjuic stadium, and thus have to say goodbye to the Champions League: after the 1-1 draw in the first leg, the Blaugrana scored two goals in quick succession in the opening stages, which proved crucial for the success. Rrahmani shortened, Lewandowski closed the score in the final.
First half: Napoli gets off to a bad start
Calzona’s team’s start è uncertain, Barça immediately takes the field and between 15' and 17' scores twice: Fermin Lopez, who scored the first goal by taking advantage of Lewandowski’s veil, while the doubling came two laps of the clock later thanks to Jao Cancelo, who rebounded into the net the ball rejected by the post after Raphinha’s first conclusion, at the end of a deadly counterattack.
Overcoming the initial shock, Napoli tried to come back and at 30' shortened the distance: è fruitful the foray into the offensive zone by Amir Rrahmani, who received the ball from the right from Politano and beat Ter Stegen with a precise conclusion. The match gets tough, as evidenced by the three first-half cautions (Christensen and Yamal for Barcelona, Juan Jesus for Napoli): at halftime it goes to 2-1.
Second half: there'è a crossbar after 3-1
In the resumption, Napoli starts with great desire and in the first four minutes comes twice to the conclusion with Kvaratskhelia and Politano, without success. The partenopei stationed a lot in the opponent’s half of the field, the blaugrana chose to wait and eventually restart. Chapter changes: Sergi Roberto, Romeu and Jao Felix for the Barça in place of Fermin Lopez, Christensen and Raphinha; Lindstrom, Olivera and Raspadori for Napoli in place of Politano, Mario Rui and Traoré.
At the 83'83' the strike at the end of a very fast action of the hosts: Gundogan’s perfect filter for Sergi Roberto, who finds himself in the condition to serve Lewandowski practically alone in the area. At 3-1, the games are practically done.
The Parthenopeans bid farewell to the Champions
.
Still, Napoli has the merit of trying until the end: Olivera hits the crossbar at'89', Kvaratskhelia sends just wide at 92', just seconds before being replaced by Ngonge. The final whistle comes after 4' of recovery: Barcelona passes, Napoli's adventure in the Champions as reigning champions of Italy ends here.
