Barcelona v Napoli: Champions League last 16, second leg – live | Champions League

10 minutes: Lopez pings a shot from 20 yards or so however he drags it nicely extensive.

Lamine Yamal hits the deck after a coming along with Mario Rui. The problem is a bodily one however it’s not a foul. Extra a case of an skilled defender attempting to inform a younger protagonist who’s in cost.

8 minutes: Cubarsi completely instances a deal with to make sure Osimhen can not get a contact and run by way of on objective. {The teenager} has began nicely.

6 minutes: In hindsight, Osimhen was clearly offside however the flag by no means went up. Nevertheless it was a warning, that’s for certain.

4 minutes: Lamine Yamal drives ahead down the proper earlier than chopping inside however his cross out extensive to Raphinha is lower out by a defender. The winger is simply 16. God I really feel previous.

Lordy! The ball is distributed excessive and Osimhen races away from the defence, going one-on-one with Ter Stegen however his toe-poked effort is straight on the goalkeeper. What a let-off.

2 minutes: The ball reaches Osimhen within the field within the opening seconds however Cubarsí does nicely to carry off the striker. A pleasant early take a look at for the teenage centre-back.

Down the opposite finish … Barcelona take pleasure in some neat buildup play however Lamine Yamal’s shot goes nicely over from the sting of the field.

Kick off

I as soon as went to this stadium to observe Espanyol v Celta Vigo. Binned off a visit to the native theme park on a university journey and went for pints. Nice days.

The gamers are out and the anthem is being booed.

“Unsure that Xavi is being notably daring by enjoying the kids,” says
Chris Amirault. “As Sid likes to level out, usually these kinds of alternatives end result from squad necessity greater than braveness. Barca haven’t been capable of put collectively a robust group for a lot of the season, and the lack of Gavi specifically has left Xavi scrambling to create new shapes with whomever they’ve. Time for the (even youthful) children to shine. Or… …”

I might have thought Inigo Martinez on the bench would appear a extra skilled possibility on this state of affairs, particularly having performed 90 minutes on the weekend.

“Congrats to you and Mrs. U on 9 years,” cheers Justin Madson. “Simply received married this previous fall so I haven’t needed to make that call (mistake?)…. but.

“In any case, simply needed to say that the pre-match protection within the US is so terrible I’d reasonably watch nothing than attempt to battle by way of Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher having “bantz”. I actually want that executives within the US had been extra in tune with high quality soccer saying as an alternative of attempting to recreate the unbearable announcers of different US sports activities. Possibly then US soccer followers gained’t be instructed they’re dumb by their group captain (sorry, not shopping for her apology on that one).”

I’ve James Horncastle pitchside and Glenn Hoddle within the studio. It’s beautiful.

Barcelona’s aspect isn’t the fear-inducing beginning XI of years passed by however there’s loads of high quality in there. It will likely be fascinating how the youthful gamers do below such stress. Barcelona can’t afford to fail within the Champions League.

Have an enormous of Nick Ames in Serbia, too.

Xavi has given 17-year-old centre-back Pau Cubarsí his Champions League debut. A daring transfer in such an enormous match.

So … right this moment is my ninth anniversary with Mrs U. I give you the query: what sporting event have you ever chosen over a private occasion (or vice versa)?

Pre-match studying from Sid Lowe.

Beginning lineups

Preamble