• BARCELONA: Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 6, Lucky to be saved by a post from Lozano’s late header, having let it go. Insigne sent him the wrong way from the spot for Napoli’s goal. AFP
    BARCELONA: Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 6, Lucky to be saved by a post from Lozano’s late header, having let it go. Insigne sent him the wrong way from the spot for Napoli’s goal. AFP
  • Nelson Semedo – 7. Such a threat from right back, as he made some blistering runs down the line to stretch Napoli. AFP
    Nelson Semedo – 7. Such a threat from right back, as he made some blistering runs down the line to stretch Napoli. AFP
  • Gerard Pique – 7, Had a scary start when he inadvertently set up Mertens, who hit the post, but he made some vital interventions when Napoli pressed later. Getty Images
    Gerard Pique – 7, Had a scary start when he inadvertently set up Mertens, who hit the post, but he made some vital interventions when Napoli pressed later. Getty Images
  • Clement Lenglet – 8, Towered over the Napoli defence, albeit with the aid of a shove on Demme, for his headed opener. Also made blocks at vital moments. AP Photo
    Clement Lenglet – 8, Towered over the Napoli defence, albeit with the aid of a shove on Demme, for his headed opener. Also made blocks at vital moments. AP Photo
  • Jordi Alba – 5, Looked hesitant at times when the away side were trying to mount their unlikely revival, and wasted some good crossing positions. AP Photo
    Jordi Alba – 5, Looked hesitant at times when the away side were trying to mount their unlikely revival, and wasted some good crossing positions. AP Photo
  • Sergi Roberto – 6, Generally occupied with maintaining possession in the midfield, but made some swift breaks forward, too. AFP
    Sergi Roberto – 6, Generally occupied with maintaining possession in the midfield, but made some swift breaks forward, too. AFP
  • Ivan Rakitic – 6, Termed “the ultimate recycler” on commentary – but he was uncharacteristically wasteful at time. And he gave away a penalty. Getty Images
    Ivan Rakitic – 6, Termed “the ultimate recycler” on commentary – but he was uncharacteristically wasteful at time. And he gave away a penalty. Getty Images
  • Frenkie de Jong – 8, Showed a brilliant range of passing. The best of them counted for nothing, though, as Messi’s goal from his cute chip was ruled out. AFP
    Frenkie de Jong – 8, Showed a brilliant range of passing. The best of them counted for nothing, though, as Messi’s goal from his cute chip was ruled out. AFP
  • Lionel Messi – 9, Determination, skill, and a little bit of luck enabled his first goal. He was unlucky to have another disallowed by VAR for handball. EPA
    Lionel Messi – 9, Determination, skill, and a little bit of luck enabled his first goal. He was unlucky to have another disallowed by VAR for handball. EPA
  • Luis Suarez – 7, Unstoppable penalty to put the hosts into a comfortable position. He did not have an abundance of chances, but used the ball cleverly. Booked for timewasting. AP Photo
    Luis Suarez – 7, Unstoppable penalty to put the hosts into a comfortable position. He did not have an abundance of chances, but used the ball cleverly. Booked for timewasting. AP Photo
  • Antoine Griezmann – 5, The least conspicuous of Barcelona’s celebrity forward line, and he looked to be lacking sharpness. AFP
    Antoine Griezmann – 5, The least conspicuous of Barcelona’s celebrity forward line, and he looked to be lacking sharpness. AFP
  • SUBS: Monchu – NA, Brought on for Griezmann to help consolidate Barcelona’s advantage late on. Reuters
    SUBS: Monchu – NA, Brought on for Griezmann to help consolidate Barcelona’s advantage late on. Reuters
  • Junior Firpo – NA, Came on for Suarez in injury time as the hosts attempted to chew up time. AFP
    Junior Firpo – NA, Came on for Suarez in injury time as the hosts attempted to chew up time. AFP
  • David Ospina – 6, Of the goals Barcelona scored, he only really had a chance with Messi’s, when a stronger hand might have turned it wide. Reuters
    David Ospina – 6, Of the goals Barcelona scored, he only really had a chance with Messi’s, when a stronger hand might have turned it wide. Reuters
  • Giovanni Di Lorenzo – 6, Had some tough moments, first when he fouled de Jong, and then late on when he was robbed of possession by Messi. AFP
    Giovanni Di Lorenzo – 6, Had some tough moments, first when he fouled de Jong, and then late on when he was robbed of possession by Messi. AFP
  • Kalidou Koulibaly – 6, Gave away the penalty after Messi picked his pocket. Tried to atone for it as a big presence at attacking set pieces. Reuters
    Kalidou Koulibaly – 6, Gave away the penalty after Messi picked his pocket. Tried to atone for it as a big presence at attacking set pieces. Reuters
  • Kostas Manolas – 6, His error in the second half could have totally ended Napoli’s rally, and he was frequently stretched by the movement of Suarez. EPA
    Kostas Manolas – 6, His error in the second half could have totally ended Napoli’s rally, and he was frequently stretched by the movement of Suarez. EPA
  • Mario Rui – 6, Had his work cut out with Messi so often finding himself in his orbit, and he looked nervous when Suarez fell over his challenge in the second half. Getty Images
    Mario Rui – 6, Had his work cut out with Messi so often finding himself in his orbit, and he looked nervous when Suarez fell over his challenge in the second half. Getty Images
  • Diego Demme – 5, Rag-dolled by Lenglet for the opening goal – possibly unfairly – and struggled to gain a foothold before being replaced at the break. EPA
    Diego Demme – 5, Rag-dolled by Lenglet for the opening goal – possibly unfairly – and struggled to gain a foothold before being replaced at the break. EPA
  • Jose Callejon – 6, Was at his brightest when Napoli started the second half with renewed belief, before being subbed with 20 minutes to go. AFP
    Jose Callejon – 6, Was at his brightest when Napoli started the second half with renewed belief, before being subbed with 20 minutes to go. AFP
  • Fabian Ruiz – 7, As Napoli mounted their bold – but ultimately in vain – resistance in the second half, he shone brightly. Reuters
    Fabian Ruiz – 7, As Napoli mounted their bold – but ultimately in vain – resistance in the second half, he shone brightly. Reuters
  • Piotr Zielinski – 6, The Polish midfielder was shown a yellow card for a tactical foul when he pulled back Messi, and looked shattered when replaced with 20 minutes left. Getty Images
    Piotr Zielinski – 6, The Polish midfielder was shown a yellow card for a tactical foul when he pulled back Messi, and looked shattered when replaced with 20 minutes left. Getty Images
  • Lorenzo Insigne – 8, Ever threatening from the left wing, especially at set pieces, and was cool as he scored from the spot. EPA
    Lorenzo Insigne – 8, Ever threatening from the left wing, especially at set pieces, and was cool as he scored from the spot. EPA
  • Dries Mertens – 7, Sliced a shot against the post in the second minute when well placed, but later won the penalty when Napoli were 3-0 down. EPA
    Dries Mertens – 7, Sliced a shot against the post in the second minute when well placed, but later won the penalty when Napoli were 3-0 down. EPA
  • Stanislav Lobotka – 6, Brought on at half-time for Demme, but had little more impact than the man he replaced. Reuters
    Stanislav Lobotka – 6, Brought on at half-time for Demme, but had little more impact than the man he replaced. Reuters
  • Matteo Politano – 6, Came on for Callejon, and did have a chance but saw his powerful drive blocked. EPA
    Matteo Politano – 6, Came on for Callejon, and did have a chance but saw his powerful drive blocked. EPA
  • Hirving Lozano – 7, The Mexican headed over with his first touch when well placed from Insigne’s cross, and later hit the post. Reuters
    Hirving Lozano – 7, The Mexican headed over with his first touch when well placed from Insigne’s cross, and later hit the post. Reuters
  • Eljif Elmas – 6, Brought on for Ruis, who was arguably Napoli’s brightest performer after the break, and he slotted in well. AFP
    Eljif Elmas – 6, Brought on for Ruis, who was arguably Napoli’s brightest performer after the break, and he slotted in well. AFP
  • Arkadiusz Milik – 6, Heartbroken to have his headed goal ruled out within a minute of coming on late on. AP Photo
    Arkadiusz Milik – 6, Heartbroken to have his headed goal ruled out within a minute of coming on late on. AP Photo

Football

Lionel Messi 9, Frenkie de Jong 8, Lorenzo Insigne 8: Barcelona v Napoli player ratings

Barca book place in Champions League quarter-finals with a 4-2 aggregate win over their Italian opponents

Paul Radley
Paul Radley
Dubai

August 08, 2020

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Lionel Messi scored a breath-taking goal as Barcelona beat Napoli 3-1 at Camp Nou to advance to the quarter final of the Champions League for the 14th consecutive season.

Goals from Clement Lenglet, Messi, and a Luis Suarez penalty made for a 4-2 aggregate win, and set up a last-eight clash with Bayern Munich in Lisbon.

Lorenzo Insigne, Napoli’s captain, also scored from the spot, but it turned out to be little more than a consolation for the Italian side.

Assessing the individual performances from Camp Nou, Paul Radley has provided his player ratings in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next slide, click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

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