FC Barcelona reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2020. The five-time winner of the premier class, together with German national players Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Ilkay Gündogan, prevailed 3-1 (2-1) against SSC Napoli in the second leg of the round of 16. The first leg in Italy ended 1-1.
Fermin Lopez (15th) and former Munich players Joao Cancelo (17th) and Robert Lewandowski (83rd) made the Catalans cheer. The subsequent goal from Amir Rrahmani (30th) was not enough for Naples to advance to the last eight for the second time.
Barca had control of the action in the Olympic Stadium from the start. Winger Raphinha used Lopez exemplary before the opening goal and the young Spaniard finished carefully, Rrahmani had canceled the offside. Cancelo was there quickly after a counterattack and Raphinha’s shot at the post and made the early decision.
But Napoli got back into the game thanks to a mistake from Cancelo, who gave up his position. The advanced central defender Rrahmani evaded Gündogan and shot in beyond the reach of Ter Stegen. The captain and goalkeeper prevented Giovanni Di Lorenzo from equalizing (34′). Lewandowski (45th + 4) missed the opportunity to restore the old distance.
In the second half, the visitors pushed for an equalizer, which gave Barca opportunities. The striking Raphinha (55th) failed. Teenager Lamine Yamal (16) was offside when he scored (68th) – he would have been the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Champions League.
Former Frankfurt player Jesper Lindström (80th) missed the best chance to equalize with his head before Lewandowski made the decision after preparation from Gündogan and Sergi Roberto.
Another Italian club was happy about Napoli’s exit: record champions Juventus Turin qualified for the 2025 Club World Cup in the USA.