Griezmann rescues Barcelona at Napoli
NAPLES: Antoine Griezmann rescued a 1-1 draw for Barcelona at Napoli in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. Frenchman Griezmann struck just before the hour mark after Dries Mertens had put the hosts ahead in the 30th minute with his 121st Napoli goal, drawing level with Marek Hamsik as the club’s all-time top scorer.
Barcelona ended the game with 10 men after Arturo Vidal was sent off with two minutes to go after picking up two yellow cards, following an angry clash with Napoli defender Mario Rui.
“In the end it’s a draw that is a good result considering that we have another home game,” said Barcelona coach Quique Setien, with his side in a strong position ahead of the second leg at the Camp Nou on March 18.
The clash was the first between the two teams and also a Champions League debut for both Setien and Napoli counterpart Gennaro Gattuso, who took over after the group stage. “They didn’t hurt us, they tickled us,” said Gattuso. “It went wrong in one moment and they punished us.”
Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne added: “We could have won, so we’re a bit disappointed. It was emotional to face players like (Lionel) Messi.” Messi failed to score on his first appearance at the Stadio San Paolo, where Napoli legend Diego Maradona reigned supreme three decades ago. The 32-year-old Messi scored four goals at the weekend in Barcelona’s 5-0 win over Eibar that put the Spaniards back top of La Liga, but could not add to his 114 Champions League goals.
“If Barca didn’t do today what they did three days ago (against Eibar) it’s to Napoli’s credit,” said Gattuso. “I hope that no one thinks it’s over. We know it will be very hard but nothing is finished yet.”
BAYERN ROCK CHELSEA
LONDON: Serge Gnabry fired Bayern Munich to the brink of the Champions League quarter-finals as the German’s double inspired a superb 3-0 rout of Chelsea in the last-16 first leg at Stamford Bridge. Gnabry had tormented Spurs with four goals in Bayern’s 7-2 victory in north London earlier this season and the former Arsenal winger returned to push Chelsea to the brink of elimination.
Gnabry he has been reborn with Bayern and his two goals in three minutes left Hansi Flick’s side within touching distance of the last eight. Robert Lewandowski got Bayern’s third before Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso was sent off in the 83rd minute.
Chelsea will need another Munich miracle in the second leg on March 18 to overturn the deficit at the Allianz Arena, where they famously beat the German club in the 2012 Champions League final. “I have a lot of friends here. A lot of them were in the stands and I think they were giving me good power,” Gnabry said. “Three goals should give us a lot of confidence. But we need to be prepared for the second leg and we can’t take it serious enough. We saw last season with Liverpool beating Barcelona, we know we have to be careful and focus.”
This hasn’t been a vintage year for Bayern, but they have been energised since the exit of disliked boss Niko Kovac.