In the first leg of their Europa League knockout round play-off against Napoli, Ferran Torres scored a second-half penalty to salvage a 1-1 draw for wasteful Barcelona.
For the first time since 2003-04, Barca competed in Europe’s secondary competition and had the better of the game, but Xavi’s men were unable to convert their superiority into a victory.
Piotr Zielinski gave Napoli the lead, while Torres, Pedri, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was making his first start since joining from Arsenal, came close for Barca.
In the second half, the hosts were equally dominant and earned a deserved equaliser from the penalty spot, but Napoli held on for a draw ahead of the second leg next week at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
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- Sergio Aguero, the Barcelona striker, has announced his retirement from sports after being diagnosed with a heart ailment at the age of 33.
A bright start saw Barca go close several times, with Nico Gonzalez testing Alex Meret and Aubameyang shaving the outside of the post.
Victor Osimhen shot at Marc-Andre ter Stegen from a tight angle soon after on the break, but Barca continued to probe, with Torres spurning a glorious chance when shooting wide with only Meret to beat in the 28th minute.
Napoli capitalised with the next attack, Zielinski smashing at Ter Stegen before burying the rebound to round off an excellent move.
Barca’s level dipped initially after the break, but they were quite literally handed a lifeline just before the hour as Adama Traore’s cross clipped Juan Jesus’ hand, and Torres converted the spot-kick after the VAR’s intervention.
Barca piled the pressure on towards the end, but Torres blazed over from 12 yards and Luuk de Jong saw an overhead kick go agonisingly wide.
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Xavi lined up with a front three made up entirely of players brought in during the January transfer window, with plenty expected of Aubameyang.
For much of the game they looked every inch an attack not used to playing with each other, with Torres and Aubameyang often on different wavelengths and Traore generally in a world of his own.
But it was not all bad and, of course, the best way to build a relationship is to play together. Xavi will hope to see more progress next time.
Koulibaly holds firm
Of course, Barca’s finishing helped Napoli avoid defeat here, but Kalidou Koulibaly’s performance deserves recognition. He was an imperious presence at the back for the visitors, routinely popping up with important clearances – in fact, he cleared the danger 11 times, at least five more than anyone else, and won eight of his 10 duels.
Torres the hero and the villain
He scored the penalty that prevented defeat, but generally Torres was disappointing. He was undoubtedly a threat, but he squandered at least three chances he arguably should have buried – and it was not as if Meret made a save for any of them, he missed the target entirely.
What’s next?
These two do it all over again in Naples in a week’s time. Before that, Barca go to Valencia in LaLiga and Napoli travel to Cagliari.
