four years later, FC Barcelona returns to the quarter-finals after a bitter duel with Naples

Barça ensured, Tuesday against Naples (3-1), to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League, after four years of absence.

The return of a giant? Absent from the quarter-finals of the Champions League for four seasons, FC Barcelona reassured itself this Tuesday March 12 by offering itself a 3-1 victory against Naples in the round of 16 second leg of the Champions League. In the first leg, Xavi’s men did no better than a draw (1-1) and therefore staked their European destiny on this match in a packed Montjuic stadium.

A sluggish success, like the last meetings of the Catalan giant. If the Blaugranas took shelter with two great achievements in quick succession – from Fermin Lopez, served behind by Robert Lewandowski (1-0, 15th), then from Joao Cancelo following a crushed shot on the Brazilian’s post ( 2-0, 17th) – Napoli was able to restart the game before the break on a Barcelona defensive error concluded by Amir Rrahmani (2-1, 30th). At the very end of the match, the dean of Barça Robert Lewandowski finally offered his team a breath of fresh air served by Ilkay Gündogan (3-1, 83rd).

A successful youth treatment

However, FC Barcelona owes a lot of its success today to the youngest members of the team, at work in its penalty area like Pau Cubarsi, central defender of 17 years and 50 days, or in the opposing camp, like Lamine Yamal , a slightly better-known winger aged 16 years and 243 days. The first ended his first start in the Champions League with the man of the match trophy, after muzzling Victor Osimhen (100% of duels won) and distributing caviar on the restart (9 successful deep passes out of 9).

The second was of all the good chances that the Blaugranas created in the first half (1st, 3rd, 10th, 40th) before experiencing the same period of relaxation as the rest of the team before and after half-time. And to find color at the end signing a small bridge after having fallen and a brushed shot crashing just behind the far post of Alex Meret (78th).

“We have a very, very young teamsmiled Jules Koundé at the microphone of Canal+, relegated to the position of right side in the face of this competition from La Masia. Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez bring us a lot. Like Pau Cubarsi, who was impressive this evening.” Positive signals which made Xavi say at the end of the match that his team had “demonstrated that it was ready to compete with other teams in Europe”. See you on Friday to find out his opponent for the quarter-finals.