Lewandowski puts the Blaugrana ahead, the Nigerian’s goal, on his first in blue after the break for the Africa Cup of Nations, seals the draw. Qualification for the quarterfinals is decided in Spain
– Naples
Choirs also sometimes underline a change. From the “we deserve more” that came from the corners after the 1-1 draw with Genoa on Saturday, yesterday the Napoli ultras closed the match proudly singing “true Neapolitan”. Calzona effect or not, this other 1-1 against Barcelona in the Champions League gives the Neapolitans a team that finished on a high note, that was able to react to the slap and then also tried to win it, risking injury time at the last second too to go out with broken bones. But that’s okay, the reaction was there. In Barcelona it will be tough, but everything is still open.
Naples, thanks meret
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Calzona goes with certainties: 4-3-3 with Cajuste as left midfielder and Olivera in place of Mario Rui at the back, probably to keep the exuberance of the talented Yamal at bay. The 16-year-old from Barça immediately shows that he is from another planet: a serpentine to the limit and an oversized left foot (4′). But his aim was immediately adjusted and in the 8th minute, from outside, he forced Meret to fly for a corner. Barça is in full control, Napoli never manages to appear in the other half of the field. In the 22nd minute it is Meret who keeps the Azzurri alive again, with a double feat: first he puts his foot down on a close range deflection from Lewandowski, then he flies again from a shot from Gundogan.
settlement of Naples
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Once the storm passed, Napoli slowly began to emerge from its den. Lobotka manages an impressive number of balls, but the blue dribble is too horizontal to scare Barça. Osi and Kvara find no ideas or depth and the Azzurri try to scare with a couple of corners cut, but without ever finishing on goal.
lewandowski freezing shower
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Calzona must have groomed his team at half-time, because a more aggressive team emerged from the locker room tunnel. Politano’s header doesn’t find the target, then it’s Osimhen who doesn’t connect two interesting balls vertically, but perhaps in an offside position. The match seems more open, but Barça catches the winning streak: Pedri finds an imaginary corridor for Lewandowski (also passing between Rrahmani’s legs), who caresses the ball and then directs it into the bottom corner, where Meret cannot this time arrive. Morally it’s a heavy blow and in the 21st minute Meret decides to say no to Pedri again.
welcome back osimhen
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Calzona tries to draw from the bench: Traorè and Lindstrom come on for Cajuste and a very dull Kvara – who doesn’t take it well… – and the pair who have just entered scares Barça with a potential scoring opportunity defused by a slide by Inigo Martinez. Napoli tries to believe it, Simeone and Raspadori come off the bench for a front-wheel drive formation, but just a moment before the substitution (30′), here comes the celebration. Anguissa catches Osimhen in the area who resists a charge, turns and diagonally explodes Maradona. The double change comes anyway after the celebrations, because Calzona wants to believe in the feat. And it is a message of courage that the team immediately receives, pouring itself proudly into the Spanish frontline, collecting corners in series: and on one of these, Anguissa comes close to the big shot early at the near post. Napoli tries until the end, but Gundogan has the last chance: a left foot one centimeter from the far post that shakes Maradona and Napoli’s dreams. But qualification remains in the balance: 50-50 had said Xavi, after the first leg, perhaps, Barça still has the advantage of the pitch factor, Napoli has the advantage of not having to play it at Camp Nou (under renovation) but at Montjuïc.
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