Europa League, Napoli-Barcelona 2-4: Blaugrana in the second round

No business for Napoli in the Europa League. After the 1-1 first leg, in the return of the playoffs for the round of 16 the team of Spalletti collects a heavy 2-4 with Barcelona and leaves the tournament. Al Maradona is a Blaugrana monologue. In the first half Jordi Alba (8 ‘) unlocks the match on the counterattack, then De Jong (13 ‘) double with a spell per spin, Badge (23 ‘) shortens from disk e Pique (45 ‘) signs the trio in the scrum. In the recovery Aubameyang (59 ‘) drops the poker with a precise right at the intersection and in the final Politano (87′) batted Ter Stegen. Napoli out, Barça in the second round. Insigne whistled at the exchange.

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THE MATCH
Too much Barça, too little Naples. This is, in summary, the analysis of the second round between Spalletti and Xavi. A challenge that at Maradona showed an important gap between the teams. Not only from a technical point of view, but also from a tactical and physical point of view. A clear difference, which the result rightly sanctions at the end of a double confrontation that the Azzurri played without really believing in it until the end and certainly with less powerful, precise and lethal “weapons”. Characteristics that instead Xavi’s men showed off at Maradona, dampening the ambitions of Spalletti and of a team that is perhaps still too immature and with too many absences to compete on par with Barcelona in the double confrontation. Two different displacements placed on the same track.

For the big match from inside or outside with Barça, at Maradona Spalletti relies on Osimhen at the center of the attack with Elmas, Zielinski and Insigne in support and Demme and Ruiz in the control room. Xavi responds with Pedri, Busquets and de Jong in the middle and with the trident Traoré-Aubameyang-Ferran Torres. Choices that immediately give rhythm to the match. Loaded and aggressive, Napoli starts strong, presses the porters and looks for cuts from the outside players. Orderly in defense and precise in the dribble, Barça, however, closes the spaces well, maneuvers in width and attacks the depth with many men. The first rings come from the parts of Ter Stegen, but the blue initiatives do not go to target and Sarri’s team loses a little distance. Attitude that grants the field to the Blaugrana and just before the quarter of an hour of play freezes the Maradona. Jordi Alba unlocks the race after a mess between Insigne and Zielinski and a devastating gallop by Traoré, then De Jong doubles the score with a spin that slips into the corner of the posts. A devastating one-two that on the one hand increases the pressure of the Blaugrana maneuver and on the other triggers the blue reaction. Dest and Aubameyang kick out of a good position, then Ter Stegen knocks Osimhen out in the area and Insigne shortens the distance from the spot. Goal that puts Napoli back in the game, but that does not change the tactical theme of the match. Tall and aggressive, Xavi’s team pushes, dominates in the middle of the field and easily reaches the shot. In difficulty in building from below, Napoli instead relies only on launches for Osimhen and Insigne’s initiatives. Too little not to undergo the Blaugrana maneuver. Aubameyang and Torres fail at least four good chances, then Piqué signs the left three of a kind in the scrum closing the first half.

The recovery begins with the entry of Politano in place of Demme and with the passage of Napoli to 4-3-3. Change of form that gives more balance and dynamism to the blues, but that does not affect the quality of the balugrana dribble in the middle of the field and the power of Traoré’s forays. On the one hand Piqué & Co. close well on Zielinski, on the other Pedri kicks high from a good position and Meret deflects a poisonous cross from Traoré. Occasions that keep the match alive, but that leave little room for blue hopes. Also because in the middle of the field Barcelona dances and when when they attack the depth they have another step. Superiority that Aubameyang realizes around the hour of play rounding the result with a powerful and precise right that leaves Meret no way out and closes the game. A very heavy poker for Spalletti’s gang, who can’t help but keep playing to limit the damage. With the match in the safe, Barcelona manages the game with possession and lowers the laps. attitude that grants the field to Napoli and that in the final also leaves room for a blue mini-reaction. Reaction that after a goal from Politano goes out on a parade by Ter Stegen on Petagna. Barcelona enchants Maradona and kills Napoli.

REPORT CARDS
De Jong 7.5: dances in the middle of the field dictating the timing of the maneuver and inventing football between the lines. The goal is magic, then many plays by champions and an absolute domination in the median
Traore 7.5: powerful, fast and technical. A devastating mix that overwhelms Mario Rui and breaks the game with its accelerations
Aubameyang 7: he acts at the center of the attack referring to the Blaugrana maneuver and communicating perfectly with his comrades in the ward. He drops the poker with a bomber hit at the intersection
Osimhen 6: usual run and explosiveness in the open field. He gets the penalty and tries to reopen the match on a couple of occasions, but the aim is not always accurate
Badge 6: plays on tiptoe trying to back off and trigger Osimhen with his vertical plays. Cold from the disk. At the exchange comes some whistles
Demme 5: in the middle of the field he never takes it and with De Jong he goes haywire. Spalletti takes it off in the interval
Mario Rui 5: Traore is devastating on his side and never manages to stem it or limit its action. Very complicated evening

THE TABLE
NAPLES-BARCELONA 2-4
Naples (4-2-3-1): Meret 5.5; Di Lorenzo 5.5, Rrahmani 5.5, Koulibaly 6, Mario Rui 5 (28 ‘st Ounas 6); Demme 5 (1 ‘st Politano 6.5), Fabian Ruiz 5.5; Elmas 5,5, Zielinski 5,5 (28 ‘st Mertens 6), Insigne 6 (37’ st Petagna sv); Osimhen 6 (28 ‘st Ghoulam 5.5).
Available: Idasiak, Ospina, Juan Jesus, Zanoli. All.: Spalletti 5
Barcelona (4-3-3): Ter Stegen 6; Dest 6.5, Piqué 7, Araujo 6, Jordi Alba 7; Pedri 6.5 (30 ‘st Nico Gonzalez 6), Busquets 6.5 (17’ st Gavi 6), de Jong 7.5; Traoré 7.5 (30 ‘st Dembélé 6), Aubameyang 7 (30’ st L. de Jong sv), Ferran Torres 6 (37 ‘st Ricard Puig sv).
Available: Neto, Tenas, Braithwaite, Mingueza, Eric Garcia. All.: Xavi 7
Referee: Karasev (RUS)
Markers: 8′ Jordi Alba (B), 13′ de Jong (B), 23′ rig. Insigne (N), 45′ Piqué (B), 14′ st Aubameyang (B), 42′ st Politano (N)
Ammonites: Zielinski, Ruiz (N); Gavi (B)
Expelled: –

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