Barcelona have qualified for the quarter final of the Champions League for the first time in four years beating Italian Champions Napoli 3-1 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate.
Fermin Lopez and Joao Cancelo put Barcelona in front, with the goals coming two minutes apart. But the hosts were made to work hard by the Italian side who pulled one back through Amir Rrahmani.
Poland striker Robert Lewandowski’s close-range finish with seven minutes of normal time remaining ended the game as a contest as Barcelona ensured their name will be in the pot for the draws
Xavi is leaving at the end of the season, but the Barcelona manager is still thinking of the club’s future as he gives opportunities to young talent.
Among them is Lopez, who spent last season on loan with third-tier Linares but has been a regular in the first team this campaign. He started in the Clasico against Real Madrid in the autumn, and made his 30th senior appearance of 2023-24 here.
This was arguably the most high-profile match of his career, and Lopez looked to grab the spotlight with a blistering start. He had already lofted a good chance over the Napoli crossbar before he opened the scoring.
After Rrahmani pulled one back, only the fingertips of Ter Stegen stopped Napoli equalising before half-time when he tipped over a looping header from skipper Giovanni di Lorenzo.
As the Napoli pressure continued in the second half, Xavi responded by bringing on the experienced midfield pair of Roberto and Oriol Romeu with Lopez one of those replaced.
This game featured two of the biggest attacking names in Europe, as Lewandowski and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen once again graced the same pitch after both scored in the 1-1 first-leg draw.
Napoli are seventh in Serie A, 28 points off the top and on to their third manager of the season in Francesco Calzona.
Champions League: Lopez, Cancelo Lewandowski On Target As Barcelona See Off Napoli To Qualify For Quarter-Finals
