Berlin (dpa) – Despite the 1-1 draw in the home game a week ago, FC Barcelona easily reached the round of 16 of the Europa League. The Spanish football club deservedly won 4: 2 (3: 1) at SSC Naples.
FC Barcelona, who failed in the Champions League, had the more effective team and took the lead early on after a counterattack initiated by former Bundesliga professional Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Jordi Alba (8th) completed the goal after a long sprint across the pitch. Just a few minutes later, Frenkie de Jong (13th) followed up with a flick from more than 20 meters away.
After the connection by Lorenzo Insigne (penalty kick/23rd), Gerard Piqué (45th) scored the 3-1 before the break with a shot into the far corner. The preliminary decision was made with Aubameyang’s goal (59th). Naples only scored a second goal through Matteo Politano (67th).
Betis Sevilla drew 0-0 with Zenit St. Petersburg in the parallel game as the Spanish club won the first leg 3-2. After two 2-0 home wins, SC Braga and Sheriff Tiraspol had to decide on penalties, in which the Portuguese prevailed 3-2.
In the early evening games, Atalanta Bergamo, FC Porto and FC Sevilla reached the round of 16. Atalanta had little trouble beating hosts Olympiakos Piraeus 3-0 (1-0) and had already won 2-1 in the first leg. Although Sevilla lost 0-1 (0-0) at Dinamo Zagreb, they won the home game 3-1. Porto drew 2-2 (1-1) at Lazio Roma and thanks to the 2-1 win in the first leg they are one round ahead.