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FC Barcelona reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2020. The five-time winner of the premier class, together with German national players Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Ilkay Gündogan, prevailed 3-1 (2-1) against SSC Napoli in the second leg of the round of 16. The first leg in Italy ended 1-1.
Fermin Lopez (15th) and former Munich players Joao Cancelo (17th) and Robert Lewandowski (83rd) made the Catalans cheer. The subsequent goal from Amir Rrahmani (30th) was not enough for Naples to advance to the last eight for the second time.
Barca had control of the action in the Olympic Stadium from the start. Winger Raphinha used Lopez exemplary before the opening goal and the young Spaniard finished carefully, Rrahmani had canceled the offside. Cancelo was there quickly after a counterattack and Raphinha's shot at the post and made the early decision.
But Napoli got back into the game thanks to a mistake from Cancelo, who gave up his position. The advanced central defender Rrahmani evaded Gündogan and shot in beyond the reach of Ter Stegen. The captain and goalkeeper prevented Giovanni Di Lorenzo from equalizing (34'). Lewandowski (45th + 4) missed the opportunity to restore the old distance.
In the second half, the visitors pushed for an equalizer, which gave Barca opportunities. The striking Raphinha (55th) failed. Teenager Lamine Yamal (16) was offside when he scored (68th) - he would have been the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Champions League.
Former Frankfurt player Jesper Lindström (80th) missed the best chance to equalize with his head before Lewandowski made the decision after preparation from Gündogan and Sergi Roberto.
Another Italian club was happy about Napoli's exit: record champions Juventus Turin qualified for the 2025 Club World Cup in the USA.
FC Barcelona vs. SSC Napoli: Champions League round of 16 to read in the live ticker - 3:1
90.+5. Final whistle. Barcelona are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
90.+3. That was Kvaratskhelia's last move, he made room for Ngonge.
90.+2. Kvaratskhelia almost takes advantage of a bad pass from the Barca defense. But the Georgian's shot rolls just wide of the goal.
90.+1. Four minutes are replayed.
89. Olivera is played from the left and shoots the crossbar with the first contact. Bitter from Napoli's point of view.
87. Barcelona now leads 4-2 after the first and second leg. It is important to bring this lead over the finish line in the last few minutes.
FC Barcelona vs. SSC Napoli: Champions League round of 16 NOW in the live ticker - Tor Barcelona
84. TOOOOR FC BARCELONA vs. SSC Napoli 3:1! Barca puts the lid on it. Gündogan and Sergi Roberto combine in the penalty area past the opposing defense. Lewandowski is there, Roberto passes him a few meters in front of the goal. Meret is overcome with this pass, so the Pole only has to push it into the empty goal.
81. Then Xavi swaps again, he brings Joao Felix for Raphinha.
80. That actually has to be the compensation. Napoli hits a cross into the danger zone, Barcelona's defense is not optimal, so Lindström heads the ball alone from five meters. The former Frankfurt player narrowly missed the target.
78. Raspadori is new to the game for Napoli, Traoré is off work.
78. The next opportunity for Barcelona, this time it's Lamine Yamal who shoots just wide of the goal.
77. Barca starts the next attack, several players march towards the opponent's goal. However, Raphinha prefers to try it alone and shoots at goal, into Meret's hands in the middle.
74. Anguissa accidentally heads to Gündogan, who simply hits it from the turn. Meret can prevent something worse from happening with a parade.
73. Olivera loses the ball while building up the game against Lamine Yamal. He then makes it quick and plays to Gündogan, who gives it back again. But Yamal's cross finds no taker.
71. The home side have woken up again and are the better team at the moment.
69. Then the ball fidgets in the net, but the goal to make it 3-1 doesn't count because Lamine Yamal was offside.
67. Raphinha takes the free kick, which is deflected into the wall by Lindström. Meret recognizes the slight change in direction and parries towards the corner.
67. Mathias Olivera is shown yellow for a foul on Lamine Yamal.
64. Napoli changes: Lindström and Mathias Olivera step onto the pitch for Politano and Mario Rui.
64. Then Traore slides into Cancelo's feet. The next yellow card is shown.
63. It's getting dangerous again in front of the Blaugrana goal. Politano crosses into the center. Ter Stegen comes out to catch, but Cubarsi gets his head first. The ball ends up in a detour at Anguissa, whose shot attempt is blocked.
61. Xavi changes for the first time this evening. He brings Romeu and Sergi Roberto for Christensen and Fermin.
58. With a back pass, Osimhen almost gets to the ball right in front of the goal. But Ter Stegen is there before him. Barcelona is swimming a little now.
57. Politano puts Anguissa on the baseline. The Neapolitan only manages to slide to the ball, but still hits a dangerous cross that is cleared by Christensen.
55. It's Barca's turn on the other side of the pitch. Cancelo plays flat into the penalty area, where Raphinha shoots directly with his inside instep. Meret can still parry.
54. Politano leads directly. But Ter Stegen sees what the Italian is planning and stops on the line to pick the ball off.
53. The guests have been clearly the better team since the restart and fight for the next free kick.
51. The following corner isn't bad, but di Lorenzo heads past the goal.
50. Cubarsi brings down Osimhen in the penalty area. However, there is no penalty whistle, instead there is a corner for the SSC. Lucky for Barca, contact was already there.
47. The first chance of the second half belongs to Napoli. Traore sees and serves Kvaratskhelia, who turns and shoots towards the goal a few meters from the edge of the box. The ball flies just past the outside post.
46. Let's move on.
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