Mertens the man for Napoli
WHILE Liverpool were suffering their trials and tribulations in Paris, Group C leaders Napoli had a much smoother ride on home turf against Red Star Belgrade.
Maurizio Sarri’s old club, now with Carlo Ancelotti in charge, hit their straps early and first-half goals from skipper Marek Hamsik and Dries Mertens paved the way for a 3-1 win.
Slovakia stalwart Hamsik put them ahead after 11 minutes, tapping in at the far post after Nikola Maksimovic nodded on Dries Mertens’ corner.
Then Belgian forward Mertens latched on to a ball from Mario Rui to flick it past Milan Borjan with the outside of his foot.
Napoli could have been out of sight by half-time only for Meertens and Jose Callejon to fluff their lines.
But it did not take long for the Italians to find their shooting boots again.
Mertens grabbed his second goal after 52 minutes, firing high past Borjan after latching on to a sumptuous pass from Hamsik. Red Star, to their credit, refused to give up and El Fardou Ben Nabouhane pulled one back just before the hour.
Lionel Messi – who else? – broke the deadlock in Eindhoven as Barcelona, leading Tottenham’s group and already through to the last 16, scrambled a 2-1 win over PSV.
It took Barca an hour to pierce the Dutch rearguard. Ousmane Dembele fed Messi, who weaved in and out, leaving the PSV defenders in a heap before unleashing a powerful shot that Jeroen Zoet could only watch hit the back of his net. It was Messi’s 29th goal in his last 28 Champions League games.
The visitors looked to have wrapped things up nine minutes later. Messi lined up a free-kick as if he was going for goal, but instead whipped it into the box for Gerard Pique to prod into the bottom corner.
But there was still time for PSV – who had hit the woodwork twice through Luuk de Jong and Denzel Dumfries – to give them a scare when skipper De Jong headed his fifth goal in five games.
For all their attacking prowess, Barca’s defending is going to be a worry to coach Ernesto Valverde as they enter the knockout stages.
DAVID RALLIS