Napoli made a comeback to tie with Barcelona in a dull 1-1 match during their Champions League round of 16 first leg on Wednesday, with Victor Osimhen scoring to equalize Robert Lewandowski’s initial goal.
The rivals, who were champions in the Spanish and Italian leagues last year but are struggling this season, had a lackluster match where neither team showed much aggression or attacking skill.
Barcelona, currently in third place in La Liga, trails the top team Real Madrid by eight points. In the first half of their match against a chaotic Napoli, Barcelona controlled the game while their opponents struggled to advance past their own half.
Barcelona faced off against Napoli in their first Champions League knockout game in three years. Napoli, who are currently struggling in ninth place in the Serie A standings, were being led by their new coach, Francesco Calzona.
Napoli struggled against Barça’s aggressive defense, struggling to make basic passes and giving the ball away to the opposing team. The visitors also seemed to lack creativity when they had possession.
In the 60th minute, Lewandowski scored for Barcelona with a pass from Pedri inside the box. The Poland striker created an opening and shot the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.
Napoli and Osimhen were stirred by this, with Osimhen scoring the equalizing goal 15 minutes after his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations. His skillful and swift strike from within the box leveled the game, setting the stage for an even matchup in the upcoming return leg in Spain on March 12th.
“The outcome of the second match was not favorable,” stated Xavi Hernández, the manager of Barcelona, in an interview with Movistar Plus. “We dominated in all areas of the game and tried to maintain control, but we faced difficulties and lacked effectiveness in our offensive plays. It ultimately reflected our overall performance this season.”
Source: theguardian.com
