Barcelona 'are coming back' as they ease into Europa League last 16

Aubameyang scores for the fourth time in two games for Catalans in 4-2 win over Napoli

Barcelona's Gabonese midfielder Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's fourth goal during the UEFA Europa League knockout round play-off second leg football match between SSC Napoli and FC Barcelona at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in Naples on February 24, 2022. (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO / AFP)

Barcelona's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scores past Napoli's goalkeeper Alex Meret. AFP

Napoli's Victor Osimhen, left, and Barcelona's Gerard Pique vie for the ball. EPA

Gerard Pique of Barcelona celebrates after scoring the third goal against Napoli. Getty

Barcelona forward Adama Traore runs with the ball in Naples. AFP

Gerard Pique Barcelona celebrates scoring. Getty

Lorenzo Insigne of Napoli scores against Barcelona. Getty

Barcelona manager Xavi at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in Naples. AFP

Frankie de Jong of Barcelona after scoring the second goal. Getty

Barcelona eased into the last 16 of the Europa League after a comfortable 4-2 away win against Napoli on Thursday.

Jordi Alba gave Barca the lead in the eighth minute of the knockout stage playoff second leg with a rare strike on his right foot and Frenkie de Jong put the Catalans further ahead with a curling shot after being teed up by a sumptuous backheel from Ferran Torres.

New signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted again for Barcelona, who had been held 1-1 at home in the first leg.

Aubameyang scored for the fourth time in two games after registering a hat-trick at Valencia in LaLiga on Sunday. Matteo Politano reduced the deficit to two goals in the 87th.

Gerard Pique, who also scored, was delighted with his side's performance after what was perhaps their best display since Xavi Hernandez took over as manager in November.

"For a while the team have not been competing at the level a club like Barca should but we have returned to our roots, to the way we should always play, the way we perhaps had stopped playing," he said.

"This performance is a message for us and for everyone else. Little by little, we're coming back."

The Spanish giants have struggled in their first season since the departure of Lionel Messi and were demoted to the Europa League after failing to advance to the Champions League knockout stages for the first time since 2004.

"We dominated we for 90 minutes and that's the first time we've done that since I became coach," manager Xavi said.

"It's a win over a team which I repeat is a Champions League-level team, one which does not concede many goals and is fighting for the league title."

Politano pulled one back in the dying minutes but it was a stroll for Barca into Friday's draw for the last 16, whose matches will be played on March 10 and 17.

"We made life difficult for ourselves with that awful start... You need to press Barcelona together as a team otherwise you will be in trouble as they will just pass it around you," Politano said.

Meanwhile, Rangers joined Barca in the last 16 by pulling of a spirited 2-2 draw at home to Borussia Dortmund in front of a raucous Ibrox crowd to progress 6-2 on aggregate.

James Tavernier got Rangers off to an ideal start by scoring a penalty midway through the first half but goals from Jude Bellingham and Donyell Malen before halftime put Dortmund in front on the night.

One more Dortmund goal would have forced extra-time but Rangers captain Tavernier put the Scottish champions back in control with his second goal of the night.

"It is a big moment for the club, we can make a lot of people proud as it was a difficult game again," Rangers coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst said.

"The last 16 is only top teams, we wait for them and we look forward to the draw."