30.9 C
Accra
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
SportsMessi and Suarez help Barca into quarter-finals

Date:

Messi and Suarez help Barca into quarter-finals

Barcelona set up a Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich after overcoming Napoli on a night of high VAR drama at the Nou Camp.

With the tie evenly poised at 1-1 after February’s first leg, Dries Mertens set the tone for an incident-packed first half, striking the post for the visitors after 90 seconds.

But it was five-time European champions Barcelona who made the breakthrough when Clement Lenglet headed in Ivan Rakitic’s corner after 10 minutes.

Lionel Messi doubled his side’s advantage in style as he wriggled past three defenders, before bending a shot between another two Napoli players and into the far side of David Ospina’s goal.

The Barcelona captain thought he had further added to his tally of 115 Champions League goals in 142 games just seven minutes later, but a lengthy video assistant referee review deemed he had handled the ball in controlling Frenkie de Jong’s pass.

Another VAR review then awarded Barcelona a penalty in first-half injury time after Kalidou Koulibaly felled Messi – and Luis Suarez stepped up to net his 25th Champions League goal.

Source: bbc.com

[forminator_poll id="710479"]

Latest stories

Eastern Reg. Police Commander accused of meddling in Boso Chieftaincy dispute

The Abusuapanin of the Boso Traditional Area in the...

Kurt Okraku secures a seat on CAF Executive Committee after election win

President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin...

Ofori-Atta drags National Security operatives to court over home raid

Former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has taken legal...

We’ll settle part of the GHS67.6bn owed to contractors and suppliers – Suhuyini

Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Alhassan Suhuyini, has...

Govt to introduce tech driven road tolls – Ato Forson

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has revealed plans...

Related stories

Kurt Okraku secures a seat on CAF Executive Committee after election win

President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin...

Raphina says team win against Benfica an honor to late team doctor Miñarro

Barcelona forward Raphinha said the team was even more...

Man Utd’s CEO warns funds for a new stadium could affect player signings

Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada said there was a...

Incredible performance, the best game I have been a part of – Slot on loss to PSG

Liverpool manager Arne Slot called his team’s Champions League...

Patrice Motsepe retains seat as CAF President

South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe has secured another term...

Medical staff face trial over football legend Maradona’s death

The long-awaited trial of the medical team that cared...