Barcelona came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with Napoli in the Champions League on Tuesday as Antoine Griezmann netted a vital away goal in the round of 16 first leg.
On a difficult evening for Barca, Napoli took the lead on the half-hour mark when Dries Mertens curled a superb effort past Marc-Andre ter Stegen from outside the box.
The finish saw the Belgium international become the joint-highest scorer in Napoli history with 121 goals — level with Marek Hamsik.
The home team frustrated Barca for much of the first half, but the visitors equalised on 57 minutes when Nelson Semedo crossed for Griezmann to finish a well-worked move in clinical fashion.
What had been a feisty affair ended with Barca’s Arturo Vidal receiving two yellow cards at once to be dismissed and teammate Gerard Pique being substituted after sustaining an ankle injury.
As a result of his sending-off, Chile international Vidal will miss the second leg against Napoli at the Camp Nou, as will fellow Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets, who was also booked.
Napoli goalscorer Mertens’ presence in the second leg is also in question after the forward limped off in the second half.
Lionel Messi was making his 141st appearance in the Champions League, taking him joint-fifth on the list for most games played in the competition, alongside Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs.
The game — which was the two sides’ first meeting — also marked the first Champions League knockout fixture in which neither manager had previously coached in the competition.
