Cheap Barcelona football jerseys advances to Champions League quarterfinals, defeating Napoli 3-1 at home and winning 4-2 overall.
Two early goals from Fermin Lopez and Joao Cancelo gave Xavi Hernandez’s team total control, but Barca had to survive a scare from the Italian champions in the middle part of the match.
Amir Rrahmani pulled one back before the break, and Jesper Lindstrom missed a header from close range late in the match that could have equalized. Instead, Robert Lewandowski finished a great team action to seal the result.
Neither side has been able to defend their domestic crowns this season, but it’s Barcelona that can still dream of ending the European campaign on a high note.
How Barca stopped the attack Cheap Women’s Napoli Football Shirt
Barcelona started very well, reflecting their improved form since Xavi announced his decision to leave at the end of the season. They entered the match unbeaten in eight games since the midfield legend ended the debate over his long-term future as coach.
Picking a team filled with young players, Lopez and Lamine Yamal came to the fore from the start, while Pau Cubarsi, just 17 years old and tasked with marking Victor Osimhen, got down to business with vigor. Cubarsi’s long pass almost brought Lopez the opening goal of the score.
He didn’t have to wait long, scoring the goal with a low finish that gave Barca confidence. Within minutes they doubled their lead. Raphinha hit the post, and Cancelo ran to the rebounded ball and fired home.
Napoli looked vulnerable, everyone shrugged their shoulders and bowed their heads, but they found an answer just when it seemed that Barca had snatched a draw from them. A deft move down the right side found a well-deserved finish, with defender Rrahmani neatly converting the ball with his left foot.
This changed the mood in an instant and the second half was difficult for the hosts, as they were unable to maintain possession of the ball. Napoli Kids Kit Football Shirt felt aggrieved when they were denied a penalty kick when Cubarsi appeared to have made contact with Osimhen in the penalty area.
The real regret for Napoli, however, will be Lindstrom’s header. He was under a little pressure when the centering pass came in from the left and seemed to pick his spot, only to see the ball drift far away from the nearer post. Lewandowski made him pay for it.
Typical of Ilkay Gundogan, a clever pass went to Sergi Roberto, and his selflessness was rewarded when he found Lewandowski in the middle. The marksman of choice did the rest.
Barca’s victory in the stats
Barcelona reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the first time since the 2019-20 season, when they defeated Napoli in the last 16 round 4:2.
Barca won all four home matches in this Champions League season, the first time they have won their first four home matches in a campaign in the competition since 2017-18.
Napoli has been eliminated in the last 16 of the Champions League in four of the five times they have reached this round.
Robert Lewandowski has scored 13 goals in the last 13 Champions League knockout stage matches.
Since the start of the 2020-21 season, Joao Cancelo is the only defender to have recorded more than 10 goals in a game (14 – 5 goals, 9 assists).
With Lamine Yamal (16 years old 243d) and Pau Cubarsi (17 years old 50d), Barcelona became the first team in the history of the UEFA Champions League to field two players aged 17 or younger in a knockout match.
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