Lionel Messi scored a solo goal when Barcelona fought on Saturday against Napoli to electronically book the Champions League quarter-finals against Bayern Munich.
Messi’s streak and Messi’s header came between an early header from Clement Lenglet and a penalty by Luis Suarez, won through Messi, for Barca to go 3-0 in the first half at Camp Nou.
Lorenzo Insigne gave Napoli hope just before the period with his own kick, but despite a period of nervousness, Barcelona remained to win 3-1 at night and 4-2 on aggregate.
After completing five editions of Real Madrid in La Liga, Barca resumed the Champions League with doubts about the shape of the team and the long history of their coach.
Quique Setien said Friday that he had not yet given up that a failure in Europe, after a turbulent internal campaign, would probably withdraw the decision.
The victory against Napoli eased the pressure, but a disjointed moment did not motivate confidence, even with Messi rejuvenated after a three-week rest.
Napoli, whose league season ended last weekend, has had the lead, but a disastrous first part left them with much to do.
His central defender Kalidou Koulibaly, connected with a movement to several elite European clubs this summer, suffered a disappointing night.
Barcelona will have to adapt significantly to Bayern, which has resorts after beating Chelsea seven times in two sets and is possibly the favourite to win the tournament.
Napoli had a hectic first half when he hit the pole when Dries Mertens approached with a failed partial volley, only for Lenglet to head to Barca from ivan Rakitic’s corner after nine minutes.
Messi controlled two after a barn race in which he fell to the ground to get up and fight his defenders from Napoli’s Track 3 before snuggling up in the farthest corner.
He thought he had another after completing a delicious pass from outside Frenkie de Jong’s right foot, but that ruled, with the ball touching Messi’s arm while he was in control.
But he may not be repressed for long, harassing Koulibaly without suspecting anything in the penalty shootout and moving the ball away from his opponent, who is already becoming transparent and only controlled to take down Messi.
Messi needed a remedy and took the penalty to Suarez, who drove to the most sensitive corner, but Napoli made the 3-1 most sensitive time of the first half, Insignia scored on the point after Rakitic broke into Mertens.
Napoli needed two more to progress and had her era at the beginning of the era of the time.
They have tested the nerves of Barcelona if Arkadiusz Milik’s headbutt with 10 minutes to the end was maintained when Hirving Lozano’s past headbutt hit the foot of the pole. Barca was relieved to hear the whistle.
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