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9 months ago
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Winner of Napoli in the round of 16 return (3-1), FC Barcelona returns to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. A first without Lionel Messi since 2003.
Four years after the 8-2 loss against Bayern, FC Barcelona returned to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. It’s even the first time since 2003 at this stage of the competition without Lionel Messi! Three weeks after a draw in Naples (1-1), the Blaugranas won against the reigning Italian champion (3-1) on their home field at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Tuesday evening.
Xavi’s team played a full match, even without Frenkie de Jong and Pedri, who were recently injured. Established for the occasion, Raphinha made the difference at the start of the match and his team scored two goals in quick succession. Fermin Lopez took a cross from the Brazilian for the opener (15th), then Joao Cancelo followed a shot from the former Rennais repelled by Alex Meret’s post (17th).
No Kvaradona…
The Neapolitans quickly reduced the gap, thanks to their central defender Amir Rrahmani (30th), but they then ran out of ideas to be dangerous. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was discreet (muzzled by Jules Koundé), the visitors’ game being summed up by difficult balls for Victor Osimhen, at the feet or in depth. Pau Cubarsi, 17-year-old center, kept a watchful eye… FCB finally took cover 10 minutes from the end thanks to Robert Lewandowski, on a caviar from Sergi Roberto (83rd).
Barça joins PSG, Bayern, Real Madrid and Manchester City in the quarterfinals (pending the last two matches on Wednesday, Atlético-Inter and Dortmund-PSV). The draw is scheduled for this Friday (12 p.m.), for matches scheduled for April 30 and May 1 for the first legs, and May 7 and 8 for the returns.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
