Napoli held Barcelona to a dour 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League Last-16 tie on Wednesday. Poland striker Robert Lewandowski put the Catalans ahead in the 60th minute, but the Italian side equalized with a goal from Victor Osimhen.
Last year's Spanish and Italian champions, who are both struggling this season, played out a poor first half. Napoli, low on creativity, were without Polish playmaker Piotr Zieliński, who has been dropped from the team since the recent announcement that he will depart for Serie A rivals Inter at the end of the season.
Zieliński has already undergone his medicals with Inter ahead of a free transfer in the summer. He has agreed to the terms of a deal with Inter, setting up a three-year contract with an option for a fourth, believed to be worth around EUR 4 mln per season.
In the other Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday, Porto snatched a shock last-gasp 1-0 victory over Arsenal as Galeno netted a sublime effort deep in stoppage time.
It was a similarly drab affair in Portugal that was brought to life in the fifth minute of added time when Galeno curled an unstoppable effort past David Raya to send the Estádio do Dragão crowd wild.
Polish international Jakub Kiwior started for the Gunners but could not significantly affect the game from left back, as his side were strangely subdued in attack and failed to register an effort on target throughout a cagey contest.
Arsenal are seeking to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010, with their last seven Champions League campaigns all ending in the last 16.
The second legs of both ties will take place on March 12.
Zieliński has already undergone his medicals with Inter ahead of a free transfer in the summer. He has agreed to the terms of a deal with Inter, setting up a three-year contract with an option for a fourth, believed to be worth around EUR 4 mln per season.
In the other Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday, Porto snatched a shock last-gasp 1-0 victory over Arsenal as Galeno netted a sublime effort deep in stoppage time.
It was a similarly drab affair in Portugal that was brought to life in the fifth minute of added time when Galeno curled an unstoppable effort past David Raya to send the Estádio do Dragão crowd wild.
Polish international Jakub Kiwior started for the Gunners but could not significantly affect the game from left back, as his side were strangely subdued in attack and failed to register an effort on target throughout a cagey contest.
Arsenal are seeking to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010, with their last seven Champions League campaigns all ending in the last 16.
The second legs of both ties will take place on March 12.
Source: Reuters, Football Italia, BBC
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