Barcelona breaks the spell: they beat Napoli and advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals

He Barcelona was able to break the curse that had followed him in recent seasons and qualified for the quarterfinals of the Champions Leagueafter three disappointing years.

Barça qualified for the quarterfinals of the Champions League after defeating this Tuesday in the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium at Naples (3-1) in the second leg of the round of 16 thanks to the goals of Fermín López and Joao Cancelo in the first half, and Robert Lewandowski in the 83rd minute. The first leg had ended 1-1 at the stadium Diego Armando Maradona.

After an open first half, in which the Barça took the lead with two goals in three minutes and Naples responded with a goal from Rrahmani; The Spanish team withstood the Italian attack, recomposed itself with the coach's changes Xavi Hernandez and finished dangerously six times before Lewandowski signed the sentence with a pass from Sergi Roberto.

It was a game with comings and goings, dominated at the beginning by Barcelonawho took advantage of the momentum to score the first two goals, then for Napoli who led 2-1 in the first half and had the game in their hands at the start of the second half.

But he reacted Barcelona with the entry of Sergi Roberto half an hour from the end. The captain was the differential factor of the match, he combined work and that point of quality that he does not lose and it allowed him to give the 3-1 and the clincher of the match to Lewandowski.

He Barça He knew what was at stake and went out to find the game. Marking the man and a very advanced line of pressure. Before putting the first ball into play, Xavi Hernandez called the band to Laminate. It was clear who was going to be one of the protagonists of the match.

The other one is a year older. Pau Cubarsi, In his debut in the Champions League at the age of 17, he earned his doctorate. The center is a mixture of Beckenbauer, Piqué and Puyol; and in his European premiere he seemed to have had a hundred games, due to his temper, precision and clairvoyance.

Barça came out for the game. Xavi featured Rtophinha on the left instead of Joao Felix. Barça looked for the right line with the Brazilian and with Lamine; he put a square in the center and had no doubts.

The first two approaches were by Fermin. The Blaugrana bit in the pressure, recovered in the opposite field and in the vertical game they were superior, without needing to build.

A 40 meter pass Cubarsi to Fermin, was not taken advantage of by the Andalusian, but from then on the overflows from both extremes gave Xavi's team the first joy. In the 15th minuteI cancel He enabled Raphinha, the Brazilian's center let him pass Lewandowski, and Fermin arriving from the second line he beat Meret.

He breathed Barça with 1-0, but he did not relax. In the next action, a drive by Lamine ended with a pass to Raphinha, who hit the post, the rebound was caught by Cancelo who made it 2-0. In two minutes, the Blaugrana had done a good part of the work, probably in the best seventeen minutes of the course.

But little by little, the Naples He felt better in the field. Politano came into play, brought the ball close to the goaland Ter Stegen and after half an hour, on the first arrival, the center Rrahmani he scored 2-1.

The Neapolitan team was still able to tie in the 34th minute, with a header that Ter Stegen except. However, Barcelona regained control of the game until the end of the first half, although with practically no scoring options, except for a shot from Lewandowski that went astray.

Kvaratskhelia warned as soon as the second half began with a shot that narrowly went wide. He put pressure on Naples and Barcelona It didn't go well, he gave away possession too soon. A fall of Osimhen inside the area, after an action of Cubarsi In '50, he sowed all doubts.

He Barça had started badly, but he stuck his head out with a jerking action. Raphinhawhich forced the intervention of Meret In the 55th minute, the game was played in the Blaugrana's field, so Xavi saw the wolf's ears, looked at the bench and made the perfect changes.

He put Sergi Roberto into play for an exhausted Fermin and replaced Christensenadmonished, for romeuand he reacted Barça. With the changes of Xavihis team revived, went ahead and had a few chances to make it 3-1.

Raphinha was the most active and had a couple of chances; Laminate He scored in the 68th minute, but offside. Gundogan He also tested Meret, as well as Lamine, who tried to repeat the goal scored against him without luck. Majorca (min. 78).

The last scare for him Barcelona It was a finish Lindstrom in the 80th minute, he finished alone and wide. It was the last death rattle of the Neapolitans, because Xavi's team grew, sustaining Sergi Robertowhich gave half an hour at a very high level.

His contribution was decisive. Gundogan He filtered a pass to Reus and with a subtle touch he gave Lewandowski 3-1 in the 83rd minute. Barcelona finally had a happy ending and four years later they will be among the eight best teams on the Continent, great news in sports and economically for the delicate state of the 'culers'.

SPORTS

With information from EFE.