NEW DELHI: Napoli held Barcelona to a 1-1 draw in their Champions League last-16 first leg in a lackluster match.
Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring for Barcelona, but Victor Osimhen equalized for Napoli.
Both teams, who have been struggling this season, failed to showcase their attacking prowess. Barcelona dominated the first half, while Napoli struggled to break free from their defensive shell.
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez expressed his disappointment with the result, stating, "It is not a good result for the return leg. We were better in all aspects of the game, but we lacked effectiveness upfront. It was a summary of our season."
This was Barcelona's first Champions League knockout match in three years, while Napoli, currently ninth in the Serie A standings, were led by new coach Francesco Calzona.
Napoli found themselves frustrated by Barcelona's high pressing and struggled to connect simple passes.
Lamine Yamal, the youngest player to appear in the knockout phase of the Champions League at 16 years and 223 days, had a couple of chances but failed to find the back of the net.
It was Lewandowski who finally broke the deadlock in the 60th minute, scoring a powerful shot from inside the box.
However, Napoli quickly responded, with Osimhen scoring a brilliant goal from inside the box, leveling the tie. The Nigerian striker, playing his first game since the Africa Cup of Nations, showed great composure.
Napoli coach Calzona praised his team's fighting spirit, saying, "We have a lot of work to do, but I congratulated the team for rediscovering the desire to fight. The players gave their heart and soul to avoid defeat against a very strong opponent."
The result leaves the tie evenly poised, with the return leg taking place in Spain on March 12. Barcelona will need to improve their attacking effectiveness if they want to advance in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Napoli will look to build on their fighting spirit and continue their journey in the Champions League.
(With inputs from Reuters)
