• Napoli's Belgian forward Dries Mertens shoots during the Champions League round of 16 first-leg against Barcelona at the San Paolo Stadium in Naples. AFP
    Napoli's Belgian forward Dries Mertens shoots during the Champions League round of 16 first-leg against Barcelona at the San Paolo Stadium in Naples. AFP
  • Barcelona's Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal reacts as he receives a yellow card from German referee Felix Brych. AFP
    Barcelona's Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal reacts as he receives a yellow card from German referee Felix Brych. AFP
  • Napoli's Dries Mertens scores their first goal. Reuters
    Napoli's Dries Mertens scores their first goal. Reuters
  • Napoli's Belgian forward Dries Mertens moved level with Marek Hamsik on 121 goals for Napoli, a club record. AFP
    Napoli's Belgian forward Dries Mertens moved level with Marek Hamsik on 121 goals for Napoli, a club record. AFP
  • Napoli's Belgian forward Dries Mertens (R) celebrates. AFP
    Napoli's Belgian forward Dries Mertens (R) celebrates. AFP
  • Barcelona's Lionel Messi in action with Napoli's David Ospina as he misses a chance to score. Reuters
    Barcelona's Lionel Messi in action with Napoli's David Ospina as he misses a chance to score. Reuters
  • Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi (C) runs with the bal. AFP
    Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi (C) runs with the bal. AFP
  • Napoli's Mario Rui (R) and Barcelona's Lionel Messi in action. EPA
    Napoli's Mario Rui (R) and Barcelona's Lionel Messi in action. EPA
  • Barcelona's Lionel Messi controls the ball. AFP
    Barcelona's Lionel Messi controls the ball. AFP
  • Lionel Messi dribbles past Napoli's Italian forward Lorenzo Insigne. AFP
    Lionel Messi dribbles past Napoli's Italian forward Lorenzo Insigne. AFP
  • Arturo Vidal receives a red card following a second bookable offence. AFP
    Arturo Vidal receives a red card following a second bookable offence. AFP
  • Barcelona's Arturo Vidal looks dejected as he leaves the pitch. Reuters
    Barcelona's Arturo Vidal looks dejected as he leaves the pitch. Reuters
  • Napoli's defender Nikola Maksimovic. AFP
    Napoli's defender Nikola Maksimovic. AFP
  • Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann scores their first goal. Reuters
    Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann scores their first goal. Reuters
  • Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring their equaliser against Napoli with Lionel Messi, Frenkie de Jong and teammates. Reuters
    Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring their equaliser against Napoli with Lionel Messi, Frenkie de Jong and teammates. Reuters
  • Napoli's Giovanni Di Lorenzo (R) and Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann in action. EPA
    Napoli's Giovanni Di Lorenzo (R) and Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann in action. EPA
  • Barcelona's Lionel Messi reacts after sustaining an injury. Reuters
    Barcelona's Lionel Messi reacts after sustaining an injury. Reuters

'Barcelona barely grazed us tonight': Napoli left to rue Antoine Griezmann equaliser as Dries Mertens equals goals record


Steve Luckings
  • English
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Barcelona manager Quique Setien declared himself satisfied with a draw against Napoli after Antoine Griezmann scored what could prove to be an important away goal in this last-16 Champions League tie.

A superb curling strike from Dries Mertens put the home side in front after half an hour and saw the Belgian draw level with Marek Hamsik as Napoli's all-time top scorer with 121 goals.

But Barca breached a well-drilled Napoli defence in the 57th minute when Griezmann fired in a Nelson Semedo cross.

The Spanish champions will have to do without the services of Arturo Vidal and Sergio Busquets for the return leg in three weeks. Chile international Vidal was sent off late on for picking up two yellow cards while Busquets picked up a caution that ruled him out of the Camp Nou tie.

"In the end it's a draw that is a good result considering that we have another home game," said Setien.

His Napoli counterpart Gennaro Gattuso was left frustrated at the result after his well-drilled defence largely stifled a quiet Lionel Messi and co.

"I think they barely grazed us tonight, they hardly had a single shot on goal," he told Sky Sport Italia.

"If Barca didn't do today what they did three days ago [against Eibar, winning 5-0] it's to Napoli's credit," he added.

"I hope that no one thinks it's over. We know it will be very hard but nothing is finished yet.

"But when on your back you have Messi or Griezmann, you want to play with a little security. This is where we can try to do better on the way back."

Barcelona dominated possession from the first whistle but struggled to find their way through the well-organised Italians, who then struck with their first meaningful attack of the game.

Junior Firpo lost the ball to Piotr Zielinski and the midfielder pulled a pass across to the waiting Mertens, who took a touch just outside the box before curling in a landmark goal, his sixth in seven Champions League games this season.

But the Belgian limped off through injury early in the second half after a hefty tackle from Busquets, which earned the midfielder the yellow card that will rule him out of the second leg.

Barca soon equalised when Griezmann fired home from close range after a neat passing move from the visitors but Napoli responded with Lorenzo Insigne and Jose Callejon both being denied by excellent saves from Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

In the 89th minute, Vidal was booked for a foul on Mario Rui and was immediately shown a second yellow for butting heads with the defender in the aftermath.

With Sunday's La Liga clasico against Real Madrid looming, Barca were also left with concerns over defender Gerard Pique, who limped off with an injury after falling heavily on his ankle.

"We'll see what problem he has, then we can confirm if he'll be available," Setien said.