Barca made the most of the hard paintings at the beginning of the Champions League in the return against Naples on Friday. Two early goals put them in control and a penalty in a time before half left the Serie A team with three left. The Italians had one, but Barca never seemed really concerned and can start preparing for Lisbon … and an attractive encounter with the forming Bundesliga team, Bayern Munich, in the quarter-finals.
Napoli knew she had to score at least once and the ball was rolling slightly when Dries Martens hit her on Ter Stegen’s wood.
But the lively start-up of the Italians meant nothing when Clément Lenglet went to a twist and led the Catalans. The best is underway and Lisbon is much closer!
And he came even closer when Leo Messi showed his magic. And what a purpose! He made his way past the 3 defenders, fell, stood up and then moved on to two more before converting magnificently.
Barca was on a roll and seemed to have done three when Messi picked up an absolute hand from Frenkie de Jong. He took it on his chest but VAR decided that his arm was also concerned and the purpose was not maintained.
And there will be more to come in an action-packed part when Kalidou Koulibaly, though inadvertently, hacked Messi into the region. Messi was injured and needed attention, and in the meantime, Luis Suarez changed the kick that left Napoli with three.
Everything seemed finished and dusted before half-time, but a penalty through Ivan Rakitic and hidden through Lorenzo Insigne a reminder that nothing is ever guaranteed in the Champions League. 3-1 at halftime.
Fortunately, Messi was able to aim for the action for a moment part that missed the relentless drama of the first forty-five minutes. The Barca had a 2-purpose mattress and seemed to have things under control, it would have been much more tense in the last few minutes if the off-game flag had not been higher in the purpose of Arkadiusz Milik.