Barcelona battle back to take draw to Naples

Knockout Round Play-Off 1st Leg

FC Barcelona 1-1 SSC Napoli

Taking part in their first Europa League tie since the 2003/04 season, Barcelona had to fight back from a goal down to earn a draw against Napoli.

Xavi opted to rotate some key players for the clash, bringing in Oscar Mingueza for Dani Alves who was not included in the Europa League squad while Sergio Busquets took a place on the bench with Nico Gonzalez starting in the middle of the park.

Eric Garcia also got the nod in defence, with Ronald Araujo ruled out through injury, and it was down his side on the left of Barcelona’s defence that Napoli found the breakthrough.

In a rematch of the 2019/2020 Champions League last 16 clash, Napoli broke on the counter attack with 28 minutes played and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen could only palm Piotr Zielinski’s shot straight back into his path.

The Polish international didn’t need asking twice and slotted past the German goalkeeper to give the visitors the lead.

Barcelona fought back thanks to a penalty kick, which was given following a VAR review for a handball by Juan Jesus as Adama Traore’s cross brushed his hand on the edge of the box.

It was then coolly converted by Ferran Torres from 12 yards just before the hour mark.

The January signing sent Alexander Meret the wrong way with a penalty low and central, just to the left of the Italian shotstopper.

The Catalans then grew into the tie and continued to look the better team as the clock counted down to the final whistle, with the booed figure of Ousmane Dembele adding a spark.

Ferran had the best chance to convert late on, but it wasn’t to be as his effort went just over the bar with Luuk de Jong then sending an overhead kick inches wide.

In the final stages, it was one-way traffic from Barcelona, but they failed to find a breakthrough, with Barcelona having 20 shots but scoring only one, with Ferran ending the evening with a total of nine shots, but only his penalty ending up on target.

The result sets up the tie for a tight second leg next Thursday in Italy, with Barcelona facing a tricky trip to play Valencia in La Liga on Sunday in between.