ANTOINE GRIEZMANN cancelled out Dries Mertens’ opener after the Belgian had become Napoli’s joint all-time leading goalscorer.
Gennaro Gattuso’s side aimed to frustrate Barcelona from the off, with the LaLiga leaders dominating for large spells without creating many chances.
Griezmann smacked home Barca’s crucial away goalCredit: Reuters
Dries Mertens had given Napoli the lead and in the process became their joint all-time leading goalscorerCredit: AFP or licensors
In fact, they failed to fashion a single attempt on target in the first half, as they were continuously thwarted by their hosts .
And when the breakthrough came, it was Dries Mertens who struck – after a Barcelona mistake gave Napoli a chance to counter.
Stand-in left-back Junior Firpo was caught dawdling on the ball by Piotr Zielinski.
The Pole then drove at the Barca back-line, before fizzing a pass across the edge of the box to the unmarked Mertens.
The magical 32-year-old then did the rest, bending the ball unstoppably past Marc-Andre ter Stegen into the top-right corner of the net.
And Napoli looked reasonably comfortable in their lead and went in at the break head.
The second half began in a similar pattern, but the Catalan giants were eventually able to capitalise on a lapse in concentration.
Mario Rui was caught out of position in the 57th minute, with Sergio Busquets able to play in Nelson Semedo down the right flank with an exquisite pass.
The Portuguese squared for Griezmann, who made no mistake from close range, blasting the ball past the helpless David Ospina.
Former Real Madrid winger Jose Callejon had a brilliant chance to restore Napoli’s lead immediately after the restart.
He was played in by Arkadiusz Milik, who had come on for the injured Mertens, but fired straight at ter Stegen, with the German having raced off his line at lightning speed to narrow down the angle.
Busquets then picked up a yellow card which will see him miss the second leg in three weeks time.
Vidal saw red late on for two quick bookingsCredit: EPA
It was a frustrating night for Lionel MessiCredit: AFP or licensors
And he’ll be joined on the naughty step by Arturo Vidal, who saw red late on in a bizarre incident that saw him pick up two yellow cards at the same time.
The Chilean, 32, was picked up a yellow card for a reckless tackle, before immediately being shown another for his brainless reaction in which he went head-to-head with Rui.
He was jeered off after his 89th minute dismissal, but may go on to have the last laugh, with Barcelona’s away goal making them slight favourites to go through in the second leg.
Gennaro Gattuso had his side well organised at the San PaoloCredit: Reuters
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
