Barcelona Sweep Napoli Apart To Make Europa League Closing 16 | Soccer Information

Barcelona cruised into the closing 16 of the Europa League on Thursday after conveniently seeing off Napoli 4-2 to head thru 5-Three on combination in a major display of pressure. The Catalan giants had been on most sensible virtually from the off in Naples because of Jordi Alba expertly completing a lightning counter-attack from a Napoli nook, and Frenkie de Jong’s very good lengthy vary effort successfully ended the tie with 3 quarters of the fit to play.

Xavi’s exciting facet will have had extra ahead of Lorenzo Insigne in short gave the hosts hope from the penalty spot mid-way during the first 1/2, and Gerard Pique made completely positive there can be no Napoli comeback at the stroke of half-time.

A sobering night time for Napoli, who’re chasing a primary Serie A identify in 3 a long time, was once capped simply ahead of the hour mark via Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, spectacular up entrance for a dynamic Barca group which appears find it irresistible can move the entire manner within the festival.

“We ruled we for 90 mins and that is the reason the primary time we have carried out that since I turned into trainer,” Xavi advised newshounds.

“It is a win over a group which I repeat is a Champions League-level group, one which doesn’t concede many objectives and is combating for the league identify.”

Matteo Politano pulled one again within the demise mins but it surely was once a walk for Barca into Friday’s draw for the closing 16, whose suits can be performed on March 10 and 17.

“We made lifestyles tough for ourselves with that terrible get started… You wish to have to press Barcelona in combination as a group differently you’ll be in bother as they are going to simply cross it round you,” Politano advised Sky Recreation Italia.

– Napoli lovers applaud Barca –

The night time started with a number of enthusiasm on the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona as the 2 groups coated up with a banner which learn “Forestall Conflict” in protest at Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which garnered loud applause.

On the other hand Napoli straight away passed the initiative to Barca, a dreadful brief nook cleared to Adana Traore who raced up the sector and fed Alba, who flippantly slotted house the opener.

That error, and the blisteringly fast method by which it was once punished, rattled the house facet and when De Jong curled in a lovely 2d the fit and tie was once all-but carried out and dusted.

Sergio Dest and Aubameyang then had pictures whistle via Alex Meret’s function as the house lovers started to voice their displeasure at their group’s timid efforts.

Napoli got a lifeline via Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who got here charging out to overcome Victor Osimhen to the ball yet took out the Nigerian and after a VAR test ended up gifting away a penalty.

Insigne slotted house the 23rd-minute spot-kick yet Barca persevered their dominance and the house lovers set free a sigh of reduction when Aubameyang come what may headed vast from point-blank vary.

Any phantasm of Napoli getting thru was once ended at the stroke of half-time, once they did not transparent a nook and Pique scuffed a left-footed shot previous Meret.

Barca’s dominance was once such that after Aubameyang ended a lengthy spell of ownership, and away fan ‘oles’, with a stylish end the Napoli supporters applauded.

The away segment garnered extra appreciation from their hosts once they began chanting anti-Juventus songs, yet the remainder of the fit was once performed out in an eerie silence.

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The house lovers began streaming for the exits with over 10 mins left as Barca contented themselves via stroking the ball round, and Politano’s nicely-taken comfort function drew little greater than a well mannered ripple from a long-since crushed crowd.

(This tale has no longer been edited via TTN NEWS group of workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)