- Former Villarreal midfielder, Zambo Anguissa has been decisive against Barcelona and Real Madrid this season
- Napoli via Victor Osimhen scored from their only shot on target on the night
- The goal is Osimhen’s first upon return from the AFCON
Cameroonian midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa provided the assist as Victor James Osimhen scored the equalizer to ensure hosts Napoli remained in their 2023/24 round of 16 UEFA Champions League tie against Spanish giants FC Barcelona
The midfield metronome played in his Nigerian colleague to beat Marc Andre Ter Stegan to make it 1-1 after Robert Lewandowski had put the visitors ahead at the hour mark of the first-leg round of 16 tie.
Barcelona arrived at the Diego Maradona stadium on Wednesday, February 21 knowing that a favourable result against fellow domestic championship strugglers Napoli will be a huge boast on an already disappointing season.
The Napoli board that had just sacked Walter Mazzarri was also expecting a reaction from their players especially Osimhen who was making his first appearance post the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The first 45 minutes of the game was relatively quiet, with chances few and far between them, though on the evidence of the teams input Barcelona should have at least been a goal to the good.
Zambo dominated the midfield as he did against Real Madrid earlier in the season though the hosts were not up to speed in terms of their end product in the final third.
The game however came to life in the second segment and it took less time for the fans to get something to shout about.
Polish forward Lewandowski received a well-worked ball in the Napoli box and quickly adjusted his body to put a drilled strike into the bottom-left corner.
However, the Blaugrana couldn’t build on their lead, with Napoli scoring with their only shot on target. Osimhen received a great ball from Zambo using his strength to roll past Martinez before slotting his effort into the bottom-left corner to make it 1-1. The assist meant Zambo has scored and assisted against Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively this season.
Gundogan went close in the final seconds for Barcelona, but he curled his low effort just wide of the left post. It was a disappointing display from Napoli.
They remain winless against Barcelona in European competition (D3 L2), and have only won two of their last 17 matches against Spanish teams across all competitions (D6 L9).
The result puts Barca in a comfortable position as they have progressed from each of their last 20 two-legged knockout stages in the UEFA Champions League tie when avoiding defeat away from home in the first leg, a run dating back to the 2005-06 campaign.
The teams will face off again with everything to play for midway through March. Napoli will now return to Serie A action, with Calzona’s men travelling to Cagliari for his first league match in charge. As for Barcelona, they host Getafe in La Liga.
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