Barca win thriller to book place in Champions League quarterfinals
FC Barcelona won a thrilling Champions League tie 3-1 at home to Napoli to assure their place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
FC Barcelona won a thrilling Champions League tie 3-1 at home to Napoli to assure their place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Raphinha opened the scoring in the 20th minute and could have had two more before halftime as Barca dominated their rivals well below usual level.
Both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona look set to lose key defenders for at least a month, with right back Dani Carvajal sidelined for Real Madrid and central defender Inigo Martinez out for Barca.
FC Barcelona have confirmed the worst fears over the knee injury suffered by 19-year-old midfielder Gavi who played for Spain against Georgia on Sunday night.
Real Madrid entertain Rayo Vallecano in a Madrid derby on Sunday night, and the game could offer Carlo Ancelotti's side the chance to move clear at the top of the table.
The result on Saturday night strengthens Barca's second place in La Liga, while doing Atletico Madrid a favour in their efforts to qualify for next season's Champions League, as it leaves them three points clear of Betis ahead of Sunday's Madrid derby.
FC Barcelona had never lost four consecutive games at the Nou Camp, and goals from Memphis Depay and Sergio Busquets ensured that history was not made.
The focus will be on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, where a point for Real Madrid against Espanyol will seal their title this season.
The young central defender began playing professionally for his hometown team and later joined the lower categories at Rentistas in the Uruguayan Second Division.
After four years of playing for Paris Saint-Germain, every trip to the French capital feels like coming home for the 31-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper.