Match ends, Napoli 1, Barcelona 1.
Barcelona grabbed an away goal as they came from behind to draw against Napoli in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in Italy.
Dries Mertens curled in from 18 yards in the first half to become Napoli's joint top scorer of all-time, level with Marek Hamsik on 121 goals.
But Barcelona equalised after 57 minutes when Antoine Griezmann scored from Nelson Semedo's low cross.
The visitors ended the game with 10 men as Arturo Vidal was sent off late on.
In the 89th minute, he fouled Fabian Ruiz, but then, after the Napoli man reacted, Vidal pushed his head into the midfielder's face and was shown two yellow cards in quick succession.
The return match takes place at the Nou Camp on Wednesday, 18 March, although the Spanish La Liga leaders will also be without suspended midfielder Sergio Busquets as he picked up his third booking of this season's tournament.
It came early in the second half when, with a foot raised, he caught Mertens, who limped off and had to be replaced shortly afterwards.
Barcelona had an injury worry of their own as centre-half Gerard Pique hobbled off in added time at the end of the match with an ankle injury.
Napoli had chances to go into the second leg in Spain with the lead but visiting goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made two fine saves, denying Lorenzo Insigne and then Jose Callejon.
"They didn't hurt us, they tickled us," said Napoli boss Gennaro Gattuso. "It went wrong in one moment and they punished us."
Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne added: "We could have won, so we're a bit disappointed. It was emotional to face players like [Lionel] Messi."
Organised Napoli stifle Barcelona
Barcelona have been European champions five times in their history, but not since 2015 and last year they held a 3-0 lead against Liverpool in the semi-final, but then lost the second leg 4-0.
In an interview last week, Barca captain Lionel Messi dismissed his own team's chances of winning the tournament, saying: "The way we are at the moment, I don't think it's enough to win the Champions League."
In the opening half in Naples, Barcelona looked well short of a side capable of becoming European champions as they failed to have a single shot on target, frustrated by a well-organised and disciplined Napoli side.
The Italians went ahead when Barca left-back Junior Firpo gifted the ball to Piotr Zielinski and his pass found Mertens, who curled his effort past Ter Stegen.
Kostas Manolas then had a chance to make it 2-0 but shot narrowly wide from Callejon's pass.
This was Napoli's first game in the Champions League since they beat Genk 4-0 to finish second in their group in December - and then sacked boss Carlo Ancelotti three hours later.
Ancelotti became Everton's boss later that month and his replacement, Gattuso, lost four of his opening six games in charge, although their form had picked up and they had won their past three matches before this game.
But Gattuso's side could not claim a fourth successive victory as they conceded in the 57th minute when Griezmann converted Barcelona's first shot on target.
However, the Italians, who now opted for a high-pressing game, came closest to winning the game, but both Insigne and Callejon were denied by excellent saves from Ter Stegen.
Despite having 67% of possession, Barcelona only managed two shots on target and both sides will be confident of advancing into the quarter-finals going into the second leg in three weeks' time.
"In the end it's a draw that is a good result considering we have another home game," said Barcelona coach Quique Setien.
"We will not be able to count on Sergio Busquets or Vidal for the return, but we will find solutions to compensate."
Napoli's long wait for second knockout win - the stats
- Barcelona have progressed from each of their last 19 knockout ties in the Champions League after avoiding defeat away from home in the first leg.
- Since winning their first-ever game in the Champions League knockout stages (3-1 v Chelsea in 2011-12), Napoli have failed to win any of their last four games outside of the group stage (drawn one, lost three), with three of those coming against Spanish opponents.
- Barcelona have only won one of their previous nine away games in the Champions League knockout stages (drawn three, lost five), with that lone victory coming against Manchester United in April 2019.
- Gennaro Gattuso and Quique Setien took charge of their first Champions League games tonight - it is the first time in Champions League history that two managers are facing each other in the knockout stages in their first ever games in the competition.
- Napoli striker Dries Mertens has netted six goals in the Champions League this season; the most by any player for the club in a single European Cup/Champions League campaign.
- Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann scored his first away Champions League goal since February 2017 (for Atletico Madrid versus Bayer Leverkusen); each of his previous nine strikes in the competition had been scored in home games.
- Arturo Vidal is the first Barcelona player to be sent off in the Champions League in the knockout stages since April 2011, when Pinto was dismissed against Real Madrid.
Line-ups
Napoli
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 25Ospina
- 22Di Lorenzo
- 44Manolas
- 19Maksimovic
- 6Mário RuiBooked at 89mins
- 4DemmeSubstituted forAllanat 80'minutes
- 7CallejónSubstituted forPolitanoat 74'minutes
- 8Ruiz
- 20Zielinski
- 24InsigneBooked at 61mins
- 14MertensSubstituted forMilikat 54'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Meret
- 5Allan
- 12Elmas
- 13Luperto
- 21Politano
- 23Hysaj
- 99Milik
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 1ter Stegen
- 2Nélson Semedo
- 3PiquéSubstituted forLengletat 90+3'minutes
- 23Umtiti
- 24Firpo
- 4RakiticSubstituted forArthurat 56'minutes
- 5BusquetsBooked at 49mins
- 21F de Jong
- 22VidalBooked at 89mins
- 10MessiBooked at 66mins
- 17GriezmannBooked at 83minsSubstituted forAnsu Fatiat 87'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Arthur
- 13Neto
- 15Lenglet
- 28Puig
- 31Ansu Fati
- 33Araújo
- 39Akieme
- Referee:
- Dr. Felix Brych
- Attendance:
- 44,388
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home33%
- Away67%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away2
- Corners
- Home2
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Napoli 1, Barcelona 1.
Post update
Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Kostas Manolas (Napoli).
Post update
Corner, Napoli. Conceded by Nélson Semedo.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Clément Lenglet replaces Gerard Piqué because of an injury.
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Arturo Vidal (Barcelona).
Booking
Arturo Vidal (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Booking
Mário Rui (Napoli) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Arturo Vidal (Barcelona).
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Mário Rui (Napoli) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Ansu Fati replaces Antoine Griezmann.
Post update
Attempt missed. Arthur (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
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Corner, Napoli. Conceded by Sergio Busquets.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Piotr Zielinski with a headed pass.
Booking
Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona).
Post update
Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Lionel Messi (Barcelona).
Post update
Nikola Maksimovic (Napoli) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Comments
Join the conversation
Nearly 20 years ago now that Barcelona last won the Champions League. Simply not good enough for a team of their calibre
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2006, 2009, 2011 & 2015? Don't let the facts get in the way eh?...
The previous account was another female name, with similar comments.
Mis-quotes all 'facts' to bait you.
You've been baited.
Best to not bite.
Ignore, he's playing you.
Barcelona got that crucial away goal and I can't see Napoli doing an upset at the Camp Nou.
I hope you do realise that the comment is not serious and the account is just a troll. All trolls want is attention and by responding you are giving them what they want?
Just ignore these type of blatantly troll comments and they will get bored and stop bothering!
Liverpool are the world champions. These two are beneath Liverpool.
YNWA
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You're aware that in the last two games against Napoli, Liverpool drew 1-1 and lost 2-0? Time to put mummy's phone down and go back to bed.
Hasn't done much since his arrival has he!?
Barca still very wobbly at the back.
Messi as usual heavily marked.
Interesting second leg . . . What do Napoli do . . . Try and hold out for 90 mins?
Only City can make an impression for the English sides in the first leg. The rest got beaten.
this hasnt happened for many years ,
some may say they know there not as hot as past seasons
so they are focusing on Cl and top 2 league spots.
think the R M v man city will be a highly veiwed game tonight .