UCL: Osimhen scores on return to secure draw for Napoli against Barcelona

2023 African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen cancelled Robert Lewandowski’s goal to earn Napoli a vital point against Barcelona in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League (UCL) round of 16 clash at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium on Wednesday.

Osimhen who was returning to the matchday squad for the first game since Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) duty for Nigeria was thrown straight into the starting lineup by Napoli’s new manager Francesco Calzona, who watched on as Barcelona trampled on his side in the early minutes of the match.

16-year-old Lamine Yamal, the youngest player ever to feature in a Champions League knockout stage game posed the greater threat from Xavi Hernandez’s men, registering two early shots on target, with the second forcing a decent save out of Alex Meret.

It was all Barcelona’s show in the first half, as Meret’s sharp reflexes kept the reigning Seria A champions in the game, becoming the first time in the Champions League history the Partenopei failed to register a single shot in the first half.

Barely fifteen minutes into the second half, Barça got their deserved lead through Lewandowski who converted a low effort from Pedri’s pass.

However, Osimhen who had been starved of his teammate’s services drew his side level with his best chance, and last kick of the game just before he was replaced by Giovanni Simeone.

Osimhen’s equalizer jerked Francesco Calzona’s men back to life, but none of their chances was worked into a winning goal, as both teams settled for the spoils, adding an extra layer of pressure going into the second leg on March 12 at Barcelona’s Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Spain.