Napoli - Barcelona summary: score, goals & highlights, Champions League

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Joe

Xavi post-game:

We defended well, we did well on the ball.

We needed to be calm after we scored. For me that's what we lacked in that moment.

This is the Champions League, we needed that moment to keep calm and keep the ball. But the team did well and dominated. We deserved more, but you have to score and not concede.

We're going to try hard in the next game.

We generated a lot of chances and won the ball well high up. It's a shame [the result], because we deserved more, but it's what I said, we lacked that control after our goal.

We were good at everything, just not after the goal, when we should have dominated. That was when they attacked and we struggled.

Full-time thoughts:

Well, the first half definitely happened. I think.

The second half saw an upturn in energy levels and entertainment, as both sides ate their half-time oranges and came out on the hunt for goals.

Chances were still few and far between but a moment of class from Pedri and Lewandowski saw the Pole skip past a challenge and slot home from the edge of the box around the hour mark.

Napoli came back into the game instantly, and began to threaten the Barcelona goal for the first time in the game. A succession of half chances was eventually rewarded for the hosts when Osimhen took a sly Anguissa ball past his marker before smashing past Ter Stegen.

From then on, with the scoreboard level, it looked like the hosts would go on to grab a late winner, with the pressure from the blue shirts almost too much for Barcelona, who resorted to last-gasp clearances inside the box.

A late chance for Gundogan almost sent Xavi's side home with what would have been an incredible result but in the end both sides will have to take the positives from a hard fought tie between two out of form sides.

FULL-TIME!

In the end it's a positive away result for Barcelona, who managed to hang on despite some late Napoli pressure.

The ball bounced on the edge of the box and Gundogan took control before bending a shot inches wide of goal!

GUNDOGAN FIRES JUST WIDE

Cancelo darts inside and plays across to Raphinha, but the ball lands behind the winger and rolls out of play.

Barcelona are having a second wind here and suddenly have the hosts pinned into their defensive third. Crosses are being peppered into the box.

Xavi is going utterly berserk on the touchline at something that's clearly offended him. He arm movements make him look like he's juggling with invisible tennis balls.

4 added minutes.

Into the last minute and it's Napoli with all the momentum.

A lovely spell of play from Napoli ends with a snapshot from Simeone as a loose ball landed within his reach. It flashed over the Barcelona goal from distance. 

Di Lorenzo goes long towards Simeone but the ball is way too high and Ter Stegen calmly collects.

Barça switch it up:

OFF: Christensen, Pedri

ON: Oriol, João Félix

Napoli are really pushing now and have had a succession of corners, the latest of which was headed over by Anguissa and could well have gone in.

Simeone controls a chipped pass over the top, spins and smashes towards goal. Araujo is there to take the effort in the stomach.

Lindstrøm almost collects a sly pass from deep as he makes a late run into the box. Christensen sees it out for a corner with some solid positioning.

It's Barcelona who are dominating the ball once again and Napoli's changes have seen them drop off slightly.

Ten to go, and the game has come to life.

The free-kick is hit by Raspadori into the wall.

Barcelona change:

OFF: Lamine Yamal

ON: Raphinha

Napoli changes:

OFF: Osimhen, Politano

ON: Raspadori, Simeone

The free-kick is not close, I'd say it's around 30 yards from goal, but the central position is enticing for any daring player to have a go at goal.

Lobotka goes on a sensational run through the middle and is brought down by Christensen, who takes the booking.

Well, the atmosphere is quite something now...

Anguissa gets the ball on the edge of the box and fires a pass into the feet of Osimhen. He takes a touch, spins round his marker and slots past Ter Stegen in a moment of pre class!

De Jong does superbly well to get his body in front of Politano on the right wing.

The Napoli forward had the afterburners on 100% and was almost airborne as he made his way towards goal.

Napoli have just started to put Barcelona, who have dropped, under pressure at the back. Pedri is asking his teammates for calm.

It's Martínez to the rescue once again as the two substitutes link up well down the left to play a wonderfully dangerous cross towards Osimhen.

Napoli changes:

OFF: Cajuste, Lindstrøm

ON: Traoré, Kvaratskhelia

Martínez clears a dangerous cross from Di Lorenzo after a nice ball from Politano had slipped the full-back in behind.

Meret gets two palms onto a Pedri shot that hits from the edge of the box. The ball was bouncing nicely and no doubt the player heard the words 'hit it, son'.

Gundogan wins the prize for worst free-kick of the night as his effort at a cross flaps into the wall.

Juan Jesus brings down Lamine Yamal as the winger races down the right side of the pitch. The free-kick is in a good position, close to the corner of the box.

The ball is rolling again as Frenkie de Jong is deployed as an emergency centre-back.

Araujo is down. The medical staff race onto the pitch.

Back underway. Let's see how both teams react to that goal.

Simple and deadly football. Pedri finds 30cm on the edge of the box, just enough to slip a pass into Robert Lewandowski who takes a touch onto his right foot and drives a low show in at Meret's near post.

LEWANDOWSKI

These 15 minutes have been infinitely more entertaining than the previous 45. Half an hour to go and I suspect changes are coming.

Both sides are pressing each other furiously and it's causing a lot of lost balls in the middle third. As you might expect given the individuals on the pitch, Barcelona come out winning once De Jong and Gundogan get a grip on things.

It's solid defending from Barcelona who mark the danger well and clear away. 

Raphinha has started to warm up...

Napoli have a dangerous free-kick on the right, close to the corner flag. Osimhen was brought down by Martínez.

It's nice from Gundogan who once again pops up in the half-space on the right. He fizzes a pass into the feet of Lewandowski but the pass towards Pedri from the Pole is overhit and flies out.

Cancelo sends in a whipped cross with the outside of his right boot behind the Napoli defence and forces Juan Jesus into a last-gasp clearance.

CHANCE FOR BARCELONA

Oooos and aaaas from the crowd as Lobotka slides Osimhen in behind the Barça defence but once again, the Nigerian is in an offside position.

Osimhen is blown for offside but he doesn't care, he's just happy that his team are finally finding the runs he's been making all game.

Meret gets down to stop a weak shot from Gundogan. De Jong had sent Lamine Yamal sprinting down the wing and he played square to the German, but the shot was poor.

A slick Kvaratskhelia touch takes the ball under control and past his man in one move, but his pass towards Osimhen is cut out by Kounde as the striker slips on the turf.

Cajuste - who was absent in the first half - plays in Anguissa before the ex-Fulham midfielder chips an enticing ball towards Kvaratskhelia, but he can't get on the end of it.

Well, that's more like it. Napoli fire themselves forward and in 20 seconds Politano has already headed wide from a cross.

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY!

No changes for either side.

Here come the players for the second half!

Let's see if they've had their half-time oranges.

That's one way of looking at it

Opta, ladies and gentlemen. You can always rely on them to be glass half full. I don't even have a glass.

Here's how things look at the break:

By all accounts, the miss from Galeno was a whopper, so you might want to check out what Roddy had to say.

Half-time thoughts:

Well, we won't be rushing out to buy the DVD of the game when it hits the shelves.

Both Barcelona and Napoli have been playing in jeans and flip flops, making life look extremely difficult as they trudge across the pitch. 

The home side are yet to have an attempt at goal and if you added up the total yardage that Xavi's side have hit shots wide of the goal, you could probably have enough airmiles to fly back to Barcelona.

Let's see if someone finds a spark from somewhere or else we're all doomed.

OK, to be fair, Lamine Yamal has had a few close calls, but his best chance was no sweat for Meret, who also did well against Lewandowski's close-range effort that was cracked straight at him.

To top it all off, I'm sure I've seen Bernd Reichart sat in the stands.

HALF-TIME!

No goals at the break.

We're into the final minute of the half and it's the home side who are finishing the stronger of the two.

Kounde makes a mistake as he tries to pass out from the back and leaves the ball for Lobotka, who has both Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen to aim for as they burst forward into the box.

However, his pass through the lines is underhit and Barcelona recover.

Kounde heads away but a mix-up between Lobotka and Kvaratskhelia on the edge of the box makes sure Barcelona don't have to defend a second wave of pressure.

Politano's cross to the far post is aimed at Kvaratskhelia but cleared by Araujo for a corner. 

Olivera heads down a Di Lorenzo cross as Napoli come forward. All of a sudden it's more positive from the home side, who need to find a spark from somewhere.

Barcelona defend a poor Napoli free-kick from out wide and the Italian team recover the ball. However, instead of piling on the pressure, they turn around and go back towards halfway, letting Barcelona out of their defensive third.

And now we've got another stoppage as Martínez fouls Osimhen. Total fútbol this is not. 

Lewandowski connects with the curling ball but his header spins at least 3 metres wide of the goal.

Another foul blown for Barcelona, this time for a challenge on Lewandowski. Gundogan is going to send the ball in from the right side.

The Napoli players are furious with Herr Referee as he gives a foul against Gundogan in the centre of the pitch as Napoli counter.

It's poor from Lamine Yamal who whips a cross towards the far post that is terribly weighted and floats out for a goal-kick. It's not been a classic so far.

Politano sends a cross in from the right and Kounde clears. Napoli come again and as Barça drop, Osimhen heads another cross over the bar in what is the most positive spell we've seen so far from the home team.

Gundogan seems to have realised that there is plenty of room ahead of the Napoli centre-backs, and has taken up a position close to Lamine Yamal.

Barcelona are smelling blood, perhaps.

The German finds space on the edge of the box and goes for goal. Meret pushes the ball wide for a corner.

GUNDOGAN GOES CLOSE!

And just like that, as you dip your toe into the still water... BANG. The crocodile strikes.

Cancelo makes a daring run down the left before pulling back to Lewandowski, who shoots low into Meret's leg!

BIG SAVE FROM MERET

Whistles from the impatient Napoli crowd as the blaugrana continue to dominate the ball. They've had 59% possession so far.

Well, we're almost 20 minutes in and Napoli are just beginning to get a feel for the ball as Barcelona chase. No signs of immediate danger, however.

Napoli defend well as Barcelona break with De Jong and Lamine Yamal.

We've seen very little threat from both sides, who look rightly like they've been plodding through the season.

Frenkie de Jong is booked for a late challenge on Di Lorenzo.

The flag is up as Osimhen races behind the yellow defence. Ter Stegen had thundered out of goal and almost messed up the clearance, but luckily for Barça, the Nigerian was offside.

Barcelona win a free-kick close to halfway after Pedri is fouled. Perhaps surprisingly, they decide to send everyone forward and lump it from distance into the box. Napoli defend easily and almost launch a counter-attack, which ends in nothing.

A succession of really poor touches from both sides in what looks like a Mr Bean x Champions League special episode ends with Frenkie de Jong finally having enough and running away from the strangely unorganised conglomeration of players that had gathered in the Barcelona half.

Kvaratskhelia does well down the left and wins a throw for his side close to the corner flag. Araujo asks for a goal kick in what might be the most optimistic shout I've ever seen. 

The first shot of the night came from a quick recovery high up the pitch which allows Lamine Yamal to cut inside from the right, but the save is a nice height for the goalkeeper and doesn't really look like going in.

Lamine Yamal tests Meret in goal!

Kounde races back and collects a long ball hit in hope towards Kvaratskhelia. The first cheers come from the home fans.

Olivera, at left-back, goes on a suicidal run inside towards the central channel before cracking a pass at an unsuspecting Anguissa from just a few yards away.

Barcelona recover and restart their play, which ends in a misdirected cross from Cancelo that flies out.

Barcelona have started well on the ball and are keeping the home side on their toes as it's sprayed left and right, looking for a way through.

Gundogan finds space between the Napoli centre-backs and receives a pass from deep.

He opens wide towards Lamine Yamal, who cuts inside and sees his shot fly over the bar from inside the box.

CHANCE FOR BARCELONA

Barcelona hit a ball over towards Lamine Yamal, who is forced to play backwards by Olivera. It's all the away side so far, but no goal threat just yet.

The opening minute has seen Barcelona keep the ball in their own half as Napoli sit in a 4-4-2 mid-block with Anguissa slightly ahead of his midfield partners.

Barça, in all yellow, are playing from left to right. Napoli are in blue shirts, white shorts and blue socks.

AND WE'RE OFF!

The away side get us going in Naples.

The Chaaaampiioooooonsss!

The starball blanket is being wafted and the players are lined up, ready to go! What a noise inside the ground!

Here come the players!

Light show finished, thank your deity.

The players are waiting patiently in the tunnel.

Personally, I'd hand out points deductions for pre-game light shows, but that's why I'm not in charge of UEFA...

Oh, we've got a light show...

The huge Champions League ball blanket that's laid out across the centre circle is also waiting to be wafted violently by the young mascots, who are clearly up for this.

Better late than never!

Here's the Twitter confirmation of Napoli's starting XI...

Almost ready to go!!!

The excitement inside the ground is building as the players make their way down the tunnel for the pre-game team talks!

Did you know?

He's already about to become the youngest ever player to play in a knockout game, but if Lamine Yamal scores today, he will become the youngest ever player to score in the Champions League and the first player under 17 years of age to ever score in the competition.

Deco pre-game:

It's important to be here, it means we're doing things correctly. It's good for the image of the club and our pride.

Xavi said what will happen: speaking about him is speaking about the same thing. We want things to go well and can't talk about him all the time. We want to go through today.

Napoli are strong, they're the Italian champions. They're dangerous and have good players, but so do we.

Here's a reminder of the starting XIs:

NAPOLI:

GK: Meret

DEF: Di Lorenzo - Rrahmani - Jesus - Olivera

MID: Lobotka - Anguissa - Cajuste

ATT: Politano - Osimhen - Kvaratskhelia

BARCELONA:

GK: Ter Stegen

DEF: Kounde - Araujo - Martínez - Cancelo

MID: Christensen - Gundogan - De Jong

ATT: Pedri - Lewandowski - Lamine Yamal

What happened last week?

Here are the links to all the Champions League Round of 16 games that took place last week. 

· Copenhagen 1-3 Manchester City

· RB Leipzig 0-1 Real Madrid

· PSG 2-0 Real Sociedad

· Lazio 1-0 Bayern Munich

Frenkie De Jong:

LALIGA

Celta Vigo - Barcelona summary: score, goals, highlights, LaLiga EA Sports

Xavi would have you believe that Barcelona have sailed through the high seas on a magic boat that doesn’t even touch the waves. 

And OK, 10 points from 12 since his leaving announcement is certainly not a bad return. 

But the results - and the games themselves - have not been anything close to peak-Barça, and the side have struggled in various moments across recent fixtures.

Against Celta Vigo, for example, it took a late penalty from Robert Lewandowski to seal the three points after some genuinelyworrying football in the second period.

Xavi has forgotten more about football that we will all ever know in our lifetimes, so I guess we have to take his word for it.

Well, would you look at that!

The results of our poll are quite surprising. The readers are voting on who they think will win, so why don't you have your say, too?

Keep an eye on those late tackles!

All of Ronald Araújo, Sergi Roberto, Ferran Torres and João Félix will be suspended for the second leg if they are booked this evening.

As for Napoli, they have no players in the same situation.

Xavi is aware of Barcelona's recent history...

"It's been tough for us away from home in the Champions League in recent years, and we want to change that"

Barça have only won one of their last 10 away games in the knockout stages of the Champions League, scoring just four goals in those matches. 

Xavi pre-game:

We're happy to be here after 2 seasons without it. We want to get to the next round and we know there are two games until then.

It's been tough for us away from home in the Champions League in recent years, and we want to change that.

We have to concentrate, show personalty and be solid. We have to defend well; we have to avoid the goals we concede from defensive errors.

The XI is the best one to compete today. Gundogan is a fundamental player for us, we want the ball today in order to dominate the game.

Nobody will stop talking about my future. Relax, one day I'll go, don't worry!

They are a strong team, a physical team and their front three are top level. They are a complicated team, even if they are not at their best level.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Who is Felix Zwayer, the referee for Napoli - Barcelona in the Champions League?

Felix Zwayer, has been part of the Bundesliga officiating team since 2008 and gained international referee status in 2012.

In the current edition of Europe's premier competition, the 42-year-old German referee has presided over four matches, including two featuring Spanish teams (Atlético Madrid and Sevilla).

Unfortunately, neither Spanish team emerged victorious…

However, he did oversee Barcelona’s 4-2 win over Tottenham in the 2018/19 season.

Who's the Napoli manager?

Napoli made the shock decision to sack their coach, Walter Mazzari, a mere 48 hours before today’s Champions League game; Francesco Calzona has been called in as a quick-fire replacement.

Calzona is currently managing both the Slovakia national team and Napoli, becoming the first Serie A manager to hold two roles.

Here's how things look from Sofascore's point of view:

The folks over at Sofascore Towers have the two sides in 4-3-3 formations ahead of kick-off.

NAPOLI STARTING XI:

GK: Meret

DEF: Di Lorenzo - Rrahmani - Jesus - Olivera

MID: Anguissa - Lobotka - Cajuste

ATT: Kvaratskhelia - Osimhen - Politano

The clock is counting down!

Recently renamed the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona after the death of the World Cup winner, today’s venue is a whopper of a ground.

Opened in 1959 and previously known as San Paolo, it holds 54,726 people, making it Italy’s fourth biggest stadium and has one of the most intimidating atmospheres on the continent when the fans in blue get going.

How it's gone for Barça so far...

Things are going well for Barcelona, right?

I can’t work it out, but I don’t think so. They finished top of their Champions League group, level on points with Porto and are a hair’s breadth from being able to call the LaLiga situation a ‘title race’. However, on the pitch, even when they win, something fails to fizz me.

They have picked up 10 points from 12 in their last 4 games which isn't bad form by any means, but games definitely end up being more difficult than you would expect them to be.

BARCELONA XI REVEALED!

it's a full-strength side from Xavi as he goes with:

GK: Ter Stegen

DEF: Kounde - Araujo - Martínez - Cancelo

MID: Christensen - De Jong - Gündogan

ATT: Pedri - Lewandowski - Lamine Yamal

Fancy watching the game?

Here’s how you can watch the action tonight on your TV or streaming device, as well as follow the live text coverage, of course.

We've got plenty of UCL action today!

Roddy is over on the other channel with the live text coverage of Porto's Round of 16 game against high-flying Arsenal.

Napoli in the famous blue...

The home side are, as expected, donning their famous blue strip for the game. Barcelona will be in their yellow second kit as their home blaugrana kit and their blue third won't do for tonight.

How things have gone for Napoli:

Well, things have certainly gone better for Napoli in the Champions League than in Serie A. The reigning Italian champions sit ninth in the domestic table, and are having to fight their way through a tough campaign. 

As for Europe, however, they came second in their group behind Real Madrid, finishing up with 10 points.

The quiet before the storm...

The stadium is ready ahead of kick-off and the fans are just beginning to filter in and find their seats.

Barcelona team news:

Xavi has Gavi still unavailable for the long term and on top of that he’s got to deal with the absencesofAlejandro Balde, Marcos Alonso and Ferran Torres. 

João Félix and Sergi Roberto are the good news stories of the week as the pair returned to training, although they won’t see the full 90 minutes today.

Napoli team news:

It’s full steam ahead for the Italian champions who have a fully fit and healthy squad at their disposal, including the recent return of Victor Osimhen, who was on AFCON duty.

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to the AS USA live text coverage of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg tie between Napoli and Barcelona. Easy for me to say.

It’s Joe here on duty and I’ll be bringing you some pre-game build-up ahead of kick-off, which we should have in around an hour.