Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernández cut a frustrated figure after his side were held to a 1-1 draw by Napoli in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, the Blaugrana were pegged back by Victor Osimhen’s late equalizer, leaving Xavi to lament a missed opportunity to seize control of the tie.
“It has been the case for the whole season,” admitted Xavi to Amazon Prime Video Italia. “We haven’t been effective in front of goal. I have a bittersweet feeling. We should have won the match, it was in our hands. We played well, controlled the game, and had numerous opportunities, but we couldn’t convert them. This lack of clinical finishing has cost us dearly on multiple occasions this season.”
However, amidst the disappointment, Xavi reserved praise for two of his star performers: young midfielder Pedri and prolific striker Robert Lewandowski. “Players like Pedri and Lewandowski are in good form,” he said. “They have taken a step forward since I announced my decision [mention the decision here, if relevant]. They are showing leadership, quality, and a positive attitude on the pitch. We need more players to follow their example and step up in these crucial moments.”
Pedri, once again, impressed with his creativity and passing range, dictating the tempo of the game in midfield. He was a constant threat with his dribbling and incisive passes, creating several scoring opportunities for his teammates. Lewandowski, meanwhile, continued his goalscoring form with a well-taken opening goal, showcasing his clinical finishing ability. However, his teammates failed to capitalize on the chances he created, leaving him frustrated on the night.
The draw leaves the tie finely balanced heading into the second leg at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on March 12th. Camp Nou remains unavailable due to ongoing renovations, adding another layer of intrigue to the decisive encounter.
For Barcelona, the focus will be on converting their dominance into goals. They must find a way to be more clinical in front of goal and avoid repeating their wasteful performance in Naples. If they can do so, they will fancy their chances of progressing to the quarter-finals. However, Napoli, buoyed by their late equalizer and passionate home crowd, will be no pushovers. They will be looking to exploit any defensive vulnerabilities in the second leg and cause an upset.