Barcelona fc will play Bayern Munich in the quarter finals of UEFA Champions league in what has been described as the battle of the titans. Barcelona saw off Napoli 3-1 with aggr 4-2 over two legs to set up quarter final encounter with Bayern who trashed Chelsea 3-1 and 7-1 on aggregate.
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Barcelona defeated Napoli 3-1 in a decisive Champions League final group 16 game to set up Bayern meet.
Lionel Messi scored a brilliant solo goal as Barcelona saw off Napoli on Saturday but they are likely to need something even more special from their captain to beat Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.
Messi’s opener and a Luis Suarez penalty, also won by Messi, stormed Barca into a 3-0 lead in the first half at Camp Nou.
But Lorenzo Insigne gave Napoli hope just before the interval and an unconvincing second period from Barcelona left them hanging on for a 3-1 win on the night, 4-2 on aggregate.
Napoli began an eventful first half by hitting the post as Dries Mertens went close with a miskicked half-volley, only for Lenglet to head in for Barca from Ivan Rakitic’s corner after nine minutes.
Messi made it two after a barnstorming run in which he fell to the ground only to dart back up and bundle his way through three Napoli defenders before curling into the far corner.
After finishing five points behind Real Madrid in La Liga, Barca resumed in the Champions League with doubts hanging over the form of the team and the future of their coach.
Setien said on Friday he had not considered resigning but failure in Europe, after a turbulent domestic campaign, would likely take the decision out of his hands.
Victory against Napoli eases the pressure but the performance will not inspire confidence, even with Messi seemingly rejuvenated after three weeks rest.
Barcelona will have to improve significantly to match Bayern, who advanced after putting seven past Chelsea over two legs and are arguably favourites to win the tournament.
“It’s going to be very complicated,” admitted Setien ahead of the quarter-final on Friday.
Messi now has four goals in his last three games and in a one-off match in Lisbon, the Argentinian is capable of anything.
But Bayern have their own trump card in Robert Lewandowski and a more complete team that makes them heavy favourites to reach the semis.
Bayern trash Chelsea
Bayern Munich overran Chelsea with a 4-1 trashing, on aggregate 7-1, to qualify for quarter finals of Champions League.
Robert Lewandowski scored twice for the German champions and assisted hosts's other two goals
Ivan Perisic and Corentin Tolisso were also on target for Bayern in a game they always controlled
Tammy Abraham struck Chelsea's only goal of the tie just a minute before half-time
Callum Hudson-Odoi also had an excellent first half strike ruled out following marginal offside call
Bayern Munich will now face Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League
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