Barcelona beat Napoli 3-1 in a tense second half on Tuesday to advance to the Champions League quarter-finals 4-2 on aggregate. Xavi Hernandez’s side flew out of the box with goals from Fermín Lopez and Joao Cancelo, but the Catalans pulled one back after Amir Rahmani pulled one back Nyan began to sweat. Italian champions Napoli drew 1-1 in the first leg of the round of 16 before Lewandowski scored from close range. Five-time champions Barcelona have reached the quarter-finals of the tournament for the first time since 2020, and they have done so despite injuries to midfield trio Pedri, Garvey and Frenkie de Jong.

“Four years later we are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and now it’s time to enjoy this moment,” Barcelona coach Xavi told Movistar.

“We played a great game, the team gave everything and we dominated in a lot of moments… (I’m) very proud.”

Xavi said he will leave at the end of the season in January, a decision that comes after his side went on a nine-game unbeaten run.

Teenage stars Lamine Hjalmar and Paulo Kubas have been key to this form, with both performing well against Napoli to give Barcelona some relief in what has been a dismal season.

17-year-old centre-back Kubalsi beat Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

“He’s incredible, he’s the best player in the game,” Sergi Roberto told Movistar.

“He keeps surprising us, in the last 16, and playing in this way, he’s a player who can spend his life here.”

Barcelona became the first team in the competition’s history to start two players aged 17 or under in the knockout stages.

Xavi asked fans to turn their makeshift Olympic Stadium home on the city’s Montjuic hill into a pressure cooker, which they did. The crowd of over 50,000 was the club’s largest attendance of the season.

Francesco Calzona’s Napoli languished as the Spanish champions flew out of the blocks.

Quick Start

Electric 16-year-old winger Yamar powered down the right flank and the clever Lopez opened the scoring 15 minutes later.

Cancelo passed the ball to Rafinha, who cut the ball into the penalty area and Lopez scored.

While he may lack Pedri’s tempo precision, the midfielder provides push and an insatiable desire to shoot.

The Catalans doubled their lead two minutes later, beating the visitors, with Yamal spearheading a counterattack in their own half.

The winger played a role in Rafinha and although the Brazilian hit the post, Cancelo rushed to head home the rebound.

Napoli fought back when Matteo Politano came in from the right, with Ronald Araujo beside him.

The Italian winger crossed to Rahmani, who neatly brought Napoli back on level terms.

Napoli then almost equalized, but Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made a superb save to deny Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s header.

Italy started the second half strongly, but Barcelona was forced to retreat into their own half and make aimless attempts.

Xavi made a move, replacing Lopez and Andreas Christensen with Sergi Roberto and Oriol Romeu, aiming to update the midfield and give the team a new direction. Get new motivation.

Rafinha and Lewandowski were saved by Alex Meret before Yamal shot from close range but he was offside.

Danish winger Jesper Lindstrom headed narrowly wide for Napoli, with Lewandowski beating in Ilkay Gundogan and Sergi Roberto (Sergi Roberto) equalized the score after combining for an assist.

“We were good at times and almost equalized,” Calzona told Sky Sport Italia.

“Of course, if you lose, something didn’t work.”

The nerves of the second half showed Barcelona are still far from their former glory, but with a dynamic Yamal, Rafinha and Cancelo leading the way, they have the quality to continue to trouble any potential quarter-final opponents.

Sergi Roberto added: “It was an unbelievable night, (it has been) four years and we are still not where we belong, where the club should be.”

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