Barcelona achieved a positive draw with a score of 1-1 against Napoli on Wednesday evening, in the first leg of the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, at the Italian side's home ground, the "Diego Armando Maradona" Stadium. Robert Lewandowski scored for Barcelona in the 60th minute, while Victor Osimhen equalized for Napoli in the 75th minute. The return match is scheduled for Tuesday, March 12, at Barcelona's "Montjuïc" Stadium.
The match began with pressure from Barcelona, as young player Lamine Yamal started strong and took a powerful shot from inside the area, but it went wide in the 3rd minute. Napoli's goalkeeper, Alex Meret, excelled in saving a shot from Yamal in the 8th minute. Lewandowski received a pass from Pedri and took a shot from inside the area, but the ball went wide of the Napoli goal in the 12th minute. The Catalan team continued to pressure the home side with another shot from Lewandowski, but Meret saved it in the 21st minute. Napoli did not pose any threat despite attempts at imprecise shots from Politano and Lorenzo, which did not trouble goalkeeper Ter Stegen. The first half ended in a goalless draw.
At the beginning of the second half, Lamine Yamal delivered a through ball to Gundogan, who received it and took a strong shot, but Meret saved it in the 48th minute. Gundogan almost opened the scoring for Barcelona with another shot in the 50th minute, but it went over the crossbar. Lewandowski succeeded in scoring the opening goal for Barcelona in the 60th minute, receiving a through pass from Pedri, maneuvering around the defense, and shooting to the bottom right of goalkeeper Meret.
Ter Stegen impressed with a save from a shot by Politano, turning it into a corner in the 63rd minute. Meret denied Pedri a chance to score a second goal for Barcelona with an outstanding save from the young Spanish player's shot, also resulting in a corner in the 65th minute. Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen successfully equalized for the Parthenopeans in the 75th minute by receiving a pass from Anguissa inside the area, and despite a clash with defender Inigo Martinez, he managed to get the ball and shoot to the bottom right of goalkeeper Ter Stegen.
Anguissa almost snatched a second goal for Napoli with a header inside the area, but it went just past the post in the 85th minute. Gundogan missed a chance to secure the win in the 95th minute, as his shot inside the area went just past the left post, leading to a final score of 1-1.
