Barcelona showcased their attacking prowess to clinch a spot in the Champions League quarter-finals with a thrilling victory over Napoli at the Estadi de Montjuic. Fermin Lopez and Joao Cancelo provided early goals for the hosts, but Napoli fought back, with Amir Rrahmani finding the net to keep the Italian side in contention. However, a late goal by Robert Lewandowski sealed the win for Barcelona.
The match started with a flurry of action as Barcelona quickly took control. Lopez opened the scoring with a composed finish, followed shortly by Cancelo’s goal off a rebound. Despite Napoli pulling one back through Rrahmani, Barcelona maintained their lead heading into halftime.
Napoli pressed hard for an equalizer in the second half, but Barcelona’s defense held firm. A missed opportunity by Jesper Lindstrom proved costly for Napoli, and Barcelona capitalized on slick play from Sergi Roberto to secure the win with Lewandowski’s decisive goal.
Barcelona’s victory was a testament to the blend of youth and experience in their squad. Manager Xavi demonstrated his commitment to developing young talent by giving opportunities to players like Lopez and Lamine Yamal, while also relying on the composure of seasoned veterans.
For Napoli, it was a disappointing end to their Champions League campaign. Despite the efforts of star striker Victor Osimhen, who posed a constant threat to Barcelona’s defense, Napoli couldn’t find a breakthrough. The loss added to Napoli’s struggles in Serie A, highlighting the challenges they’ve faced this season.