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FINAL WHISTLE
This is it! It's 2-4 at the Stadio Maradona: Barcelona will play the round of 16 of this Europa League's edition. Napoli are out.
Napoli vs. Barcelona score, ratings: Alba, de Jong and Aubameyang easily lead Barca to Europa League last 16
Barcelona are heading to the UEFA Europa League round of 16
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1 min read
The Barcelona we're all accustomed to seeing might be inching back to it's old form. At the Stadio Maradona on Thursday in Naples, Xavi's team showed that they are in the right path on the comeback trail to return to the highest level, winning easily, 4-2, against Napoli. The result moves Barcelona to the Europa League round of 16 after the two sides settled for a 1-1 draw in last week's first leg. Barca will find out their round of 16 opponent in Friday's draw on CBS Sports HQ.
Barcelona started extremely well and were immediately dangerous in the second leg. As a consequence after a bad pass made by Lorenzo Insigne from corner, Barcelona had a counterattack that Xavi's team exploited very well. Adama Traoré was too fast for Napoli's defense, and he gave the ball to Jordi Alba, who would not miss.
Barcelona doubled their lead moments later, with Frenkie de Jong scoring a stunner after a pass from Ferran Torres. De Jong had all the time and the room to think and shoot from more than 20 meters out. There was nothing that the Napoli keeper could do.
The first half is not over yet, because the referee whistles a penalty kick against Napoli for a foul by ter Stegen on Osimhen.
Lorenzo Insigne got a goal back for Napoli in the first half after Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen fouled Victor Osimhen in the box. But Barca's lead was back to two goals before halftime as Gerard Pique scored right before the break.
Napoli were definitely more aggressive in the second half but failed to create chances to change the result. Barcelona were in control of the match and scored the fourth goal with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finding the back of the net.
Napoli managed to score their second goal of the night through Matteo Politano, but it was too late and the Serie A side crashed out of Europe at home.
Napoli ratings
| Name | Minutes | How did they do? | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
(GK) Alex Meret | 90 | Honestly, he couldn't do much more in the first half when Napoli conceded three goals, especially on Alba and de Jong. Additionally, he had no responsibility in the goal scored by Aubameyang. | 5 |
(DEF) Giovanni Di Lorenzo | 90 | Forced to play defensively compared to the first leg, which was a factor on the night given his qualities. It was difficult to contain Ferran Torres and de Jong in that part of the pitch. | 4 |
(DEF) Amir Rrahmani | 90 | Rough night, even if he wasn't really supported by his teammates. The midfielders failed to assist Napoli's defense, especially in the first 45 minutes. Things were better when Spalletti switched to the 4-3-3 in the second half. | 4 |
(DEF) Kalidou Koulibaly | 90 | A bit better than his teammate, but ultimately his performance wasn't at his level. At Camp Nou, he was definitely one of the bests on the pitch, but this time he suffered against Barcelona's strikers. | 5 |
(DEF) Mario Rui | 90 | A negative performance, much like the rest of his teammates, but it got a bit better after he recovered the ball that brought Politano to score the late second goal of the night. | 5 |
(MID) Fabian Ruiz | 73 | After being one of the bests at Camp Nou a week ago, Ruiz failed to prove himself at home. He didn't create or defend, capping off a poor performance. | 5 |
(MID) Diego Demme | 45 | An incredibly difficult first half. He didn't press enough and he suffered time and time again against Barcelona's midfielders. Spalletti took him out after the first half and could have probably done it sooner. | 3 |
(MID) Piotr Zielinski | 73 | He was the creative midfielder who scored the first goal and also provided assists to his teammates in the first leg, but this time around, he didn't do much at all. Suffered the way Barcelona played between the defensive and attacking lines. | 4 |
(MID) Eljif Elmas | 90 | Copy and paste of the Zielinski's performance. Even worse for Elmas because he played more minutes when Napoli were better in the last part of the match. | 4 |
(FWD) Lorenzo Insigne | 81 | ⚽ A huge mistake from the corner kick that favored a counterattack that led to the first goal of the match. He scored the penalty and tried to make absorb some of the early blows. | 5 |
(FWD) Victor Osimhen | 73 | Only had once chance and missed it in the second half. He was the one who created the chance for the penalty scored by Insigne, but we should expect much more from him. | 4 |
| Substitutes | Replaced | How did they do? | Rating |
Matteo Politano | Diego Demme (45') | ⚽ Made a solid impact even if he couldn't change the game alone. He's the only player who made the most out of a terrible day by scoring a nice goal. | 6 |
| Adam Ounas | Piotr Zielinski (73') | Made a solid impact on the pitch. Not enough time and chances to make things happen, but not a bad performance compared to his teammates. | N/A |
| Dries Mertens | Victor Osimhen (73') | Could do more. Petagna did more than him playing eight minutes less. | N/A |
| Faouzi Ghoulam | Fabian Ruiz (73') | Didn't have time to make an impact since the game was virtually over. | N/A |
Andrea Petagna | Lorenzo Insigne (81') | Late substitution but showed some potential. | N/A |
| Manager | Subs used | How did the manager do? | |
| Luciano Spalletti | 5 | From a tactical perspective, this was the complete opposite of his picture-perfect first leg. A bit better in the second half when he switched to the 4-3-3. Disappointing. | 3 |
Barcelona ratings
| Name | Minutes | How did they do? | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
(GK) Marc-Andre Ter Stegen | 90 | Only made one save but dealt well with crosses. The challenge on Osimhem was quite poor, resulting in a penalty kick. Not his best game, but his attack did enough. | 4 |
(DEF) Jordi Alba | 90 | ⚽ Led his team in tackles and interceptions on the defensive end, and he also scored a goal with a terrific run and finish. A great day at the office. | 8 |
(DEF) Gerard Pique | 90 | ⚽ Scored a goal, which is a bonus, but his defending wasn't all that awesome. He struggled in the air at times despite having the size advantage. | 6 |
(DEF) Ronald Araujo | 90 | Solid defensively and quite aggressive. He also passed the ball well and limited mistakes. | 7 |
(DEF) Sergino Dest | 90 | As usual, he was below average in defense and above it in attack. Nearly scored on a sweet strike in the first half. | 5 |
(MID) Frenkie de Jong | 90 | ⚽ Goals in back-to-back games now, and his strike in this one was a thing of beauty. Also recovered the ball well and completed 93.4 percent of his passes. | 8 |
(MID) Sergio Busquets | 62 | Not overly sharp. He lasted just 62 minutes and looked a step slower than usual, which is saying something. Recovered the ball well and had some decent passes, but something seemed off. | 6 |
(MID) Pedri | 75 | The team's most creative player, he had flashes of brilliance but didn't get to make the impact he wanted. Taken off in second half. | 6 |
(FWD) Ferran Torres | 82 | Just like the first leg, his shooting was off. He did record an assist though and continues to look more and more comfortable. | 6 |
(FWD) Pierre-Emerick Aubeyang | 75 | ⚽ Scored again with a graceful finish to the far post. His passing was sharp as well, and he did everything he was expected to do. | 8 |
(FWD) Adama Traore | 74 | Two more assists for the big man as he caused trouble time and time again. Did it both on the wing and centrally and never tried to do too much. | 7 |
| Substitutes | Replaced | How did they do? | Rating |
Gavi | Busquets (62') | Came in and passed the ball well but it was never dangerous. | 5 |
| Ousmane Dembele | Traore (74') | A quit cameo for the Frenchman off the bench. | 5 |
| Luuk de Jong | Aubameyang (75') | Played 10 minutes and didn't get to shoot. | N/A |
| Nico Gonzalez | Pedri (75') | Solid off the bench with crisp passes and one chance created. | 6 |
Riqui Puig | Ferran (82') | Late sub who helped keep possession. | 6 |
| Manager | Subs used | How did the manager do? | |
| Xavi | 5 | No complaints. The attack looks like it is gelling, and if they can overcome lapses at the back, they can win this thing. A huge, momentum-boosting victory in Naples. He had them ready. | 8 |
Updates
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GOAL - Politano scores the second
A late goal by Politano after that Mario Rui recovered a ball and gives it to the Italian striker who doesn't miss it. Shouldn't have an impact on the final result. Too late for Napoli.
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Absolutely impressive from Barca
What a performance this is. Back-to-back games with four goals after putting that many past Valencia at the weekend. Xavi has this team rolling across their last two games, but we'll see if they can keep it up. As for Napoli, they've been thoroughly crushed at home. Likely no way back in now.
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Insigne's goal on offside
Lorenzo Insigne had one chance to score another goal but the assistant referee sees an offside and for this reason the goal is disallowed. Few seconds later Victor Osimhen has a chance, the first one of the night, but fails to convert it into a goal. Still 1-4.
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Match is already over
Doesn't look like something can change in the last part of the game, with Barcelona in control and with Napoli struggling to keep the ball. A frustrating night for the home team.
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GOAL - Aubameyang makes four!
Another amazing goal scored by Barcelona with Pierre Aubameyang, who makes his first goal in the European competitions with his new club. Traoré on the right passes the ball inside the box, with Aubameyang who doesn't even think about it and shoots with Meret again who couldn't do much.
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Napoli more aggressive
Even if the home team doesn't have clear chances they are at least more aggressive compared to the first half. However, Napoli are too inaccurate and make too many mistakes.
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WE'RE BACK!
Second half started with one change for Napoli: Diego Demme goes out, with Matteo Politano coming in. The Italian striker needs to make an impact if Napoli want to have some chances.
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FIRST HALF IS OVER
It's 1-3 for Barcelona at the Stadio Maradona at halftime. Xavi's team dominated the match until now and Napoli apart of the penalty didn't create enough. Amazing performance until now by the visitors.
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GOAL - Piqué scores!
It's 3-1 Barcelona at the Maradona. Gerard Piqué scored the third goal of the match for the guests. On the development of a corner kick, the ball reaches Piqué in the middle of the box. The defender kicks it and the ball goes wide right close to the post.
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Chance for Auba
Barcelona close to make the third goal! Aubameyang has a huge chance from few meters but his header goes wide. The match is now super open with chances and spaces for the two sides. Barcelona need to be careful because Napoli now have found some space on the sides to attack Xavi's team defense.
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Back in it for Napoli
The Italian club are back in this and a goal away from pulling level, but Barca remain the sharper team. There are more goals in this, certainly, with Barca controlling possession and outshooting Napoli 8-1.
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Video: Insigne's penalty
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GOAL - Insigne scores!
It's 2-1 at the Maradona: Insigne doesn't miss the penalty and scores the first goal of the match for Napoli with ter Stegen that doesn't even move. The game is still open.
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Video: De Jong's GOLAZO
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Penalty Napoli!
Goalkeeper ter Stegen goes against Osimhen very late and makes a foul. The referee gives a penalty to the home team after that the VAR checked it was inside the box.
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Video: Jordi Alba's opener
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Napoli's defense just demolished
It's just terrible from the hosts. So much disconnect at the back, midfield not marking well, and Frenkie de Jong scores an absolute GOLAZO, unmarked at the top of the box. Just brilliant, and Barca are rolling!
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GOAL - de Jong makes it two!
2-0 Barcelona: what a goal by Frenkie de Jong. Ferran Torres finds the Dutch midfielder after recovering a ball and he has all the time and the room to think and shoot from more than twenty meters. There's nothing that Meret can do here. Amazing goal by de Jong.
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A brilliant start for Barca
They have really been sharp from the get go, especially Adama! He's looked to be at another level with some runs down the right, and here he gets centrally, uses his muscle and gets the assist. What a fantastic start, and Napoli cannot believe it. The attack started as the result of a horrific corner kick attempt from Lorenzo Insigne.
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GOAL - Barcelona ahead!
It's 1-0 at the Stadio Maradona, with Jordi Alba scoring the opening goal of the night. Napoli started well but Lorenzo Insigne misses the measure of the touch from the corner and favors a counterattack: Adama Traoré goes at full speed, opens for Jordi Alba who doesn't miss it and scores the first goal of the match.
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KICK-OFF
We're underway at the Stadio Maradona for the second leg of Europa League's play-offs. Seven days ago it was a draw (1-1) at the Camp Nou. Without the away goal rule, whoever wins tonight will go forward in the competition.
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Why Dani Alves can't play
Barcelona legend Dani Alves won't be part of today's clash against Napoli because he was not included in the Europa League list for the knockout stage. The rule says that clubs can add only three new faces in the existing lists and Barcelona manager Xavi decided to include Ferran Torres, Adama Traore and Aubameyang (all of them are in the starting XI) and for this reason there was no room for Dani Alves.
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The clubs against the war
As announced by the clubs, Napoli and Barcelona will show a "No War" banner before the match that will take place at the Stadio Maradona after what happened in Ukraine in the last hours.
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Team news
Napoli XI: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Koulibaly, Mario Rui; Fabian, Demme; Elmas, Zielinski, Insigne; Osimhen
Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen; Dest, Araujo, Piqué, Jordi Alba; de Jong, Busquets, Pedri; Adama Traoré, Aubameyang, Ferran Torres
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Napoli have a good record
Napoli have progressed from all eight of their UEFA European knockout ties when they've drawn the first leg away from home, most recently in the last 32 of the Europa League in 2013-14 against Swansea City (0- 0 first leg, 3-1 second leg).
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Pedri's key role
In the first leg against Napoli, Barcelona's Pedri created five chances for his teammates - aged 19 years and 84 days, he was the youngest player to achieve that in a UEFA Europa League knockout match for 11 years, since Christian Eriksen (19y 3d) created five for Ajax against Anderlecht in the last 32 in February 2011.
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Highlights from the first leg
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Team news
Napoli: Lorenzo Insigne and Victor Osimhen are expected to lead the attack for the hosts as they enter the match nearly in full strength. Eyes will be on Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina after some poor displays as of late, including conceding a horrible shot in the 1-1 draw with Cagliari on Monday.
Barcelona: Xavi's men enter the game with a day more of rest and get Gerard Pique back after he serves a suspension in La Liga over the weekend. Expect to see Adama Traore, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and and Ferran in attack after they all started on Sunday in the 4-1 win over Valencia. Aubameyang scored a hat trick in the match and enters in top form and full of confidence.
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How to watch and odds
Date: Thursday, Feb. 24 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona -- Naples, Italy
TV and live stream: Paramount+
Odds: Napoli +170; Draw +240; Barcelona +150 (via Caesars Sportsbook)
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