Barcelona player ratings vs Napoli the Blaugrana Reach Champions League Quarter-Finals for First Time Since 2019 with Young Guns Leading the Charge.
Barcelona player ratings vs Napoli Blaugrana Young Guns Shine as Barcelona Reaches Champions League Quarters
Barcelona’s youthful exuberance propelled them to a dominant 3-1 victory over Napoli, securing their long-awaited return to the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2019.
Raphinha, a star on the left flank, orchestrated the early onslaught. His creativity unlocked the Napoli defense, setting up Ferran Lopez for the opening goal. Moments later, Raphinha unleashed a powerful shot that rattled the post. The rebound fell perfectly for Joao Cancelo, who tapped it in to double the lead.
However, Napoli refused to roll over. They responded with a well-orchestrated counter-attack, with Amir Rrahmani finding the net to bring them back into the game. Marc-Andre ter Stegen, ever the hero, ensured Barcelona maintained their lead with a spectacular diving save, denying Napoli an immediate equalizer.
Despite the brief scare, Barcelona’s young guns continued to impress, ensuring their place among the elite eight of Europe.
Barcelona continued to pile on the pressure in the second half. Lamine Yamal thought he’d added a third goal, but his celebration was cut short by an offside call. The Blaugrana weren’t deterred and kept creating chances, with Yamal, Raphinha, and even Lewandowski coming close to extending their lead. Finally, their persistence paid off. Following a delightful sequence of passes around the Napoli box, Lewandowski made no mistake, calmly slotting the ball into the net to seal the victory.
This win marked Barcelona’s most impressive performance in months. Napoli only managed sporadic threats, while Xavi’s men dominated throughout the crucial moments. The victory has ignited dreams in Catalonia – could this be the year Barcelona reclaims its place among Europe’s elite?
Here’s how GOAL rated Barcelona’s players [insert link to GOAL ratings], providing more insights into individual performances.
Goalkeeper & Defence
Barcelona player ratings vs Napoli Barcelona Player Breakdown:
Marc-Andre ter Stegen (7/10): Unlucky for Napoli’s goal but displayed his reflexes with a crucial save to maintain Barcelona’s lead. Distributed the ball effectively throughout the match.
Jules Kounde (8/10): Effectively neutralized Kvaratskhelia, a key threat for Napoli, particularly in the early stages. Held his own even as the Georgian attacker got more involved later in the game.
Ronald Araujo (7/10): Led the high defensive line well, although his play in tight spaces could be tidier. However, his fighting spirit was never in doubt.
Pau Cubarsi (8/10): A crucial early intervention prevented Osimhen from scoring. Played some excellent forward passes and looked composed throughout the match.
Joao Cancelo (7/10): Added his name to the scoresheet and posed a constant threat down the left flank, despite overplaying on a few occasions. Contributed defensively as well.
Barcelona player ratings vs Napoli Midfield:
- Andreas Christensen (5/10): Made some reckless challenges that could have resulted in a red card. This wasn’t his best performance.
- Fermin Lopez (8/10): A standout performer. Made attacking runs, nearly scoring on a couple of occasions before grabbing a well-deserved goal. Fatigue set in after an hour, leading to a deserved substitution.
- Ilkay Gundogan (7/10): Acted as the central midfield anchor, distributing the ball and contributing in the attacking third. However, he failed to track Rrahmani during Napoli’s goal.
Midfield:
- Andreas Christensen (5/10): Made some reckless challenges that could have resulted in a red card. This wasn’t his best performance.
- Fermin Lopez (8/10): A standout performer. Made attacking runs, nearly scoring on a couple of occasions before grabbing a well-deserved goal. Fatigue set in after an hour, leading to a deserved substitution.
- Ilkay Gundogan (7/10): Acted as the central midfield anchor, distributing the ball and contributing in the attacking third. However, he failed to track Rrahmani during Napoli’s goal.