Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen scored in his first game for Napoli since December to salvaged a draw as they held Barcelona to a 1-1 draw in their Champions League last-16 first leg.
Robert Lewandowski put Barca in the lead in the 60th minute in Italy when he arrowed an effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Barcelona were dominant against a Napoli side whose final-third efforts were often lacking in Francesco Calzona’s first game in charge.
But the hosts eventually found a way back when Osimhen slipped past his marker in the box before rifling past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to level.
The second leg takes place in Barcelona on 12 March.
Osimhen was part of the Nigeria side who lost to Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations final in February and missed his side’s most recent league game through suspension.
Napoli have struggled in their Serie A title defence, languishing in ninth place and trailing leaders Juventus by 27 points, and replaced Walter Mazzarri with Calzona – who is also Slovakia manager – on Tuesday.
There were few signs of immediate improvement, though, and they failed to even register a shot in the first half, a first for Napoli in the Champions League.
Champions Leagues: Osimhen Rescues Napoli Against Barcelona
