Napoli vs Barcelona summary: score, goals and highlights, Europa League
Napoli vs Barcelona: as it happened
Napoli 2-4 Barcelona (5-3 agg): headlines
- Barça into Europa League last 16 after overwhelming Napoli in Italy
- Last-16 draw is at 12pm CET/6am ET on Friday
- Alba gave Barça early lead after quick break
- De Jong added a quickfire second with stunning strike
- Insigne cut the deficit from the penalty spot
- Piqué restored Barça's two-goal lead with tidy finish on stroke of half time
- Aubameyang curled in fabulous fourth after the break
- Politano pulled one back late on after Nico error
- Teams hold up 'STOP WAR' banner before kick-off
Peeep peeep peeeep! Barcelona are into Friday's last-16 draw, and deservedly so. Napoli added some measure of respectability to the scoreline at the end, but they've been totally outplayed tonight.
Each of the visitors' strikes were lovely goals in their own way - and that's two games in a row that they've scored four. Things are starting to look up for the Blaugrana.
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Three minutes of time added on.
Dembélé has a pop from 25 yards or so out, but pumps his left-footed shot well over the crossbar.
Well, well, well. Petagna almost pulls another one back for Napoli. He's slipped into space on the right-hand side of the box and tries to beat Ter Stegen at his near post, but the German blocks with his shoulder.
Goal to Napoli! Politano pulls one back.
Nico has his pocket picked by Mertens as Barça play the ball out from the back. The ball drops to Politano in space in the box, where he rifles home past Ter Stegen. Mertens seemed to grab Nico after his initial tackle, preventing him from contesting the ball with Politano, but the goal is given. Seems like a clear foul, to be honest. It shouldn't matter, though.
Dembélé plays Luuk de Jong into the box, but the Dutchman thinks he's offside, and doesn't really do anything with it, allowing Napoli to scramble it behind for a corner. Replays confirm De Jong was on.
A minute later, Puig lifts the ball over to Luuk de Jong at the far post, where this time he does get a shot in, sending a bouncing effort wide. And this time he was offside.
A reminder that the last-16 draw is tomorrow at 12pm CET/6am ET. If you're wondering how you can follow it, check out our guide on how and where to watch.
More changes. Insigne is replaced by Andrea Petagna for Napoli, while Barcelona's Ferran is off for Riqui Puig.
Ghoulam whips in a left-wing corner that Ter Stegen just gets his fingertips to. The ball drops to Insigne, who twists and turns in search of shooting space, before having his strike deflected behind. The corner comes to nought.
Ounas scampers forward with ball at feet and tries to slip Mertens into the box, but massively overhits his pass. Mertens is never getting to that one.
Both teams make triple changes. For Napoli, Zielinksi, Fabián and Osimhen are off for Dries Mertens, Adam Ounas and Faouzi Ghoulam.
For Barcelona, Adama, Aubameyang and Pedro are replaced by Ousmane Dembélé, Luuk de Jong and Nico González.
Apparently Dembélé's shirt had to be retrieved from the dressing room because he had forgotten it. Lol.
Insigne dinks a neat ball over the top for Osimhen, who is such a threaten when he runs with it. He carries it into the box and shoots low, but drags his strike just past Ter Stegen's far post.
A moment later, Osimhen nods it down for Zielinski to hit the bouncing ball from the edge of the box, but the Pole slaps it well over the bar.
Insigne has the ball in the net, but he's a couple of kilometres offside. He played a give and go with Zielinski, who wanted far too long to lift the ball back to the Napoli captain's run into the box. Nice finish, to be fair, but, even without the benefit of a replay, it was pretty clear it was going to be chalked off.
Blimey, Aubameyang really should make it five, there. Barça are cutting Napoli to ribbons at the back. The striker suddenly finds himself in on Meret, but his touch is just too long and the goalkeeper darts off his line to grab hold. A let-off for the hosts.
Barcelona make their first change, bringing on Gavi for Busquets.
The travelling fans enjoy a round of 'olés' as Barça knock it. They're brimming with confidence now. If Napoli aren't careful, this could end up being quite a walloping.
Beautiful, beautiful goal. Barça have four!
Adama cuts inside from the right and plays the ball across the top of the box to De Jong. He lets it run to Aubameyang, who pings it first-time into the top corner. Meret can only watch it fly in.
Di Lorenzo lifts a long ball over the top for Politano to run onto on the right. He crosses behind Osimhen, drawing loud groans from the home support. Ah, but Politano was offside, anyway.
Adama gets to the byline and crosses every. Single. Time. He takes on Mario Rui and dinks a delivery across the face of goal that Ferran can't quite get his head to. The ball drops to De Jong, who for a moment looks like he's going to wallop it home for 4-1, but his shot is blocked.
Pedri shoots over! Adama drives to the byline and fizzes in a low cross that Koulibaly sidefoots clear. Running onto the loose ball, Pedri strikes first-time from just outside the box, but boots it into orbit.
Adama carries the ball forward down the right wing, touches it past Koulibaly and flops to the turf. He doesn't get a free-kick.
At the other end, Koulibaly can then be heard reacting with some rather colourful language - assume my A-Level French is on point, that is - after he is deemed to have dragged down Dest.
Peeeep! We're back up and running at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Politano on for Napoli, no half-time changes for Barcelona.
Napoli make a half-time change, bringing Matteo Politano on for Diego Demme.
Piqué draws level with Koeman
According to Spanish football stats guru Mister Chip, Gerard Piqué has become Barcelona's joint-highest-scoring defender in European club competitions, drawing level with former boss Ronald Koeman on 15.
Frenkie de Jong curls in Barcelona's second goal in Naples.
(Photo: Rodolfo Molina/Diario AS)
Peeep peeep peeeep! Barça are firmly in the driving seat in Naples. Xavi's men have been the better side and are well worth their two-goal advantage. They've looked like scoring pretty much every time they've come forward. It's been a lot of fun so far in Naples - unless you're a Napoli fan, that is.
Goal! Piqué gets Barcelona's third!
Napoli clear the corner, but Barça recycle the ball out to the left to Ferran, who feeds Alba to cross. Alba's low delivery drops to Piqué, who tees himself up with his right, before threading it in off the far post with his left!
Dest is careless with it and suddenly Elmas is running at the Barça backline with Osimhen peeling off ahead of him. Elmas tries to lift a ball over the top to the Nigerian, but his pass is well cut out.
At the other end, De Jong feeds it right to Adama, whose attempted shot is deflected behind for a corner.
Osimhen carries the ball over the halfway and down the right flank, but Piqué and Alba marshall him into the corner, before winning a goal kick off him. Excellent stuff from the Barça pair. Osimhen doesn't agree with the decision to give a goal kick, let's just say.
That's a waste from Adama. Barça get the winger thundering forward towards the Napoli byline, with Aubameyang and Ferran calling for it in the middle. Adama tries one trick too many rather than squaring the ball, however, and is dispossessed. Barça have so much space every time they come forward.
Osimhen touches it past Piqué on the right wing and goes flying to the floor in search of a free-kick. He doesn't get one. What he does get is a quiet word in his ear from Piqué, who was none too impressed with his theatrics.
Aubameyang slips the ball into Ferran Torres in shooting space on the left-hand side of the Napoli box, but Ferran doesn't quite get hold of his first-time shot. It trundles into Meret's arms. Barça are creating so many chances, though.
Insigne scuttles over the halfway line and towards the Barcelona box, before playing it to Osimhen and carrying on into the area in search of the return. Piqué is there to shepherd the ball behind, though.
A minute or so later, Insigne again brings it forward, but his cross-cum-shot from the right-hand channel drifts harmlessly behind for a goal kick.
Oh my. What a chance Aubameyang has just missed. A Barceloan corner is flicked on at the near post, and flies straight through to the striker, who's all alone at the back post. All he has to do is direct his header goalwards, and it's 3-1. He nods wide.
Barça had won that corner from another very decent chance, too. The visitors won the ball back on the edge of the Napoli area, before De Jong slipped it square to Ferran. He cut inside Mario Rui before shooting, but Meret turned his strike wide.
It's a really enjoyable game.
It's rather noisier inside the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona now.
That said, we have two moments where it looks for a moment like Aubameyang might silence the home crowd once more. First, he heads a cross towards the penalty spot just wide, but was offside anyway. 30 seconds later, Busquets feeds it to the Gabon international, who whips a curling shot just, just wide of Meret's left-hand post.
Insigne takes, and Insigne scores! Napoli are right back in it. Particularly with no away-goals rule. One more, and it's even stevens in the tie once again.
Penalty to Napoli! Osimhen chases down a long ball on the left, Ter Stegen charges out of his box, and brings the Nigerian down. Referee Sergei Karasev initially gives a free-kick just outside of the box, but after a quick VAR check, he changes his decision and points to the spot! It certainly looks like it's the right call.
Barcelona are enjoying themselves here, and are drawing indignant jeers from the home fans. First, Dest gets it out of his feet and shoots just wide from 25 yards or so. A minute later, and from a similar position, Aubameyang is the next Barça player to try his luck. He's unsuccessful, but Napoli are on the ropes right now.
2-0 to Barcelona! Wow! It's an absolute peach from De Jong.
Two goals in the space of five minutes or so, and Barça are in total charge of this tie. It's lifted forward to Aubameyang, who flicks it back to De Jong. The Dutchman carries it forward, then a little further, before curling a 25-yard shot high into Meret's far top corner! The keeper never got a sniff of it.
Osimhen plays the ball around the corner towards Zielinski just inside the box. Piqué gets himself in a tangle as he tries to clear, but the flag was up against the Pole. Offside.
Barça clear the Napoli corner, burst up the pitch on the break, and Alba slides the visitors in front!
Insigne tries to play cute corner low to the near post, and succeeds only in knocking it straight to a yellow Barça shirt. Aubameyang then offloads to Adama, who puts on the after burners and powers over the halfway line. In the blink of an eye, he's in a position where all he has to do is slip it to the right and Alba is in.
Slip it to the right he does, and Alba finishes low past Meret! A rapid, perfectly-executed counter. Fine goal.
On the left wing, Napoli get Mario Rui forward and into a space to deliver a ball into the box. His cross is deep to the back post, where Alba heads it out.
Insigne to take, and...
At the other end, Napoli create their first crossing opportunity, working it to Di Lorenzo on the right. His low ball towards the penalty spot is a yard or two too close to Ter Stegen, though, and the German grabs hold.
Adama Traoré gets his first chance to scamper towards the byline and lift a ball into the box, but Di Lorenzo is there to get it clear. Still, encouraging stuff from Adama, who showed Demme a squeaky-clean pair of heels.
'STOP WAR'
Here's a photo of the Napoli and Barcelona players holding up the 'STOP WAR' banner.
Peeeep! After the players take a knee, we're underway in Naples.
Teams out in Naples
Out come the teams at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, where it's Europa League anthem time first.
After the handshakes, the players come together to hold up that 'STOP WAR' banner. The referee tonight, by the way, is a Russian: Sergei Karasev.
Three wins, three defeats for Barça after 1-1 home draw
Football stats specialists Opta note that Barcelona currently have three wins and three defeats in European knockout ties in which they drew the first leg 1-1 at home. Most recently, they were knocked out of the 2013/14 Champions League by fellow LaLiga side Atlético Madrid.
It's worth pointing out, though, that this was all with the away-goals rule in force. Now that it's no more, a 1-1 home draw seems like a slightly better result.
The winners of tonight's tie in Naples will go into the hat for tomorrow's Europa League last-16 draw in Nyon, which is due to begin at 12:00 local time (6am ET).
AS USA's Kieran Quailes has the lowdown on how you can follow the draw
Players to display anti-war banner
Napoli and Barcelona have both announced that the teams will hold up a banner with the message 'STOP WAR' before kick-off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Getting back to tonight's clash in Naples, Barça boss Xavi said on Wednesday that Napoli will offer a stiff examination of the Blaugrana's progress since he took over, telling reporters: "Tomorrow [Thursday] is a litmus test to know where we are. We are in the Europa League, but Napoli are a Champions League rival."
He added: "It will be a battle of who has the ball and possession. It's Europe and it's difficult, but it's a good test to prove that Barça can compete in Europe."
Ukrainian Premier League suspended
In Ukraine, the country's Premier League has been suspended for 30 days - full story on that here.
Meanwhile, Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic have called on FIFA and UEFA to take away Russia's hosting rights in the forthcoming World Cup qualifying play-offs. Russia are due to face Poland in the semi-finals in Moscow on 24 March, and would also be the home side if they progress to the final, scheduled for 29 March.
Champions League final set to be moved from Russia
Tonight’s Europa League action is somewhat overshadowed by the news coming out of Ukraine today, and you’ll forgive me if I spend some time talking about that - specifically, the impact Russia’s invasion of its neighbouring country has had on the football world.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has called an emergency meeting of the body’s executive committee on Friday, with the exco expected to strip St Petersburg of the hosting rights to this season’s Champions League final.
AS journalist Joaquín Maroto reports that London’s Wembley Stadium and Munich’s Allianz Arena are the favourites to replace Krestovsky Stadium.
Should you be wondering how you can watch Napoli vs Barcelona, we've got you covered.
Four changes for Napoli; Piqué, Pedri and Adama in for Barça
Barcelona boss Xavi Hernández makes three changes to the team that began the 4-1 weekend win over Valencia. Gerard Piqué returns from suspension, replacing Eric García at the heart of the backline, while Pedri comes in for Gavi. On the right wing, Adama Traoré is in for Ousmane Dembélé.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang makes his second start for Barça, fresh from bagging a hat-trick - a retrospective one, at least - against Valencia.
As for Napoli, they make four changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Cagliari on Monday. David Ospina, Juan Jesus, Dries Mertens and Andrea Petagna make way for Alex Meret, Fabián Ruiz, Lorenzo Insigne and Victor Osimhen.
Napoli team news
Starting line-up: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Koulibaly, Mario Rui, Fabian, Demme, Elmas, Zielinski, Insigne, Osimhen
Barcelona team news
Starting line-up: Ter Stegen, Dest, Piqué, Araújo, Alba, Busquets F. De Jong, Pedri, Adama, Ferran, Aubameyang
Napoli vs Barcelona live updates: welcome
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the second leg of Napoli and Barcelona's Europa League knockout round play-off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. After a 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou a week ago, it's very much all to play for in Naples - particularly given we no longer have the away-goals rule.
The teams are in, so let's take a look.