Barcelona have won the Champions Cup five times (most recently in 2015), but have not reached a Champions League quarter-final since 2020 and have been eliminated after the group stage in the last two seasons.
The away meeting with Napoli in the round of 16 ended 1-1, but a few golden minutes put Barça in the driver’s seat at home at the Olympic Stadium. In the 15th minute, 20-year-old Fermín López controlled the lead. Two minutes later, defender João Cancelo sent in even 2–0 after Raphinha hit the post.
After half an hour it was reduced when Napoli’s centre-back Amir Rrahmani joined the offensive and the Italian guests also had bids for an equalizer before the break.
In the second half, Barcelona – missing the injured duo Pedri and Frenkie de Jong – appeared nervous at times. Napoli substitute Jesper Lindstrøm had a good chance to equalize in the 80th minute, but the Dane’s header went just wide of the post.
Instead, Pole Robert Lewandowski secured the Catalans’ progress when, in old Barça fashion, the home side rolled up the Napoli defense and scored the 3-1 goal in the 83rd minute.
– It was an incredible evening, it’s been four years without us going where we belong, where the club deserves to be, says Barcelona midfielder Sergi Roberto to Movistar.
Arsenal make their first appearance in the Champions League since the 2016–17 season, but had a 0–1 deficit to overturn at home to Portuguese side Porto.
After 41 minutes of play, Arsenal finally got a hole in Porto. Norwegian Martin Ødegaard showed technical brilliance a little outside the penalty area and found Leandro Trossard with a delicious deep ball. The Belgian made no mistake and put Arsenal in the lead and 1-1 on aggregate in the doubleheader.
Arsenal had bids for a winning goal in regular time. Substitute Gabriel Jesus had the best position in the final stages, but Diogo Costa in the Porto goal saved and the meeting in London had to go to extra time.
There Arsenal continued to dominate in terms of play, but were barred in vain against Porto’s defensive wall with 41-year-old Pepe at the helm.
In the penalty shootout, however, Arsenal were one hundred percent. When goalkeeper David Raya saved Galeno’s penalty in the fourth round, the London team emerged victorious 4–2 in the penalty shootout.
It is the first time in 14 years that Arsenal are in the quarter-finals.
