Antoine Griezmann Scores as Barcelona Draw 1-1 with Napoli in UCL Leg 1

Ten-man Barcelona dug out from a deficit to win a 1-1 draw against Napoli in the principal leg of their 2019-20 UEFA Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.

Dries Mertens put the hosts ahead with a splendid strike in the first half at the Stadio San Paolo, however Antoine Griezmann's objective right off the bat in the subsequent half implied respects completed even.

Barca did, however, finish the game a man down when Arturo Vidal was sent off late on for two concurrent yellow cards.

The Blaugrana's away objective should give them an edge for the arrival leg at the Camp Nou on March 18, particularly since Napoli have won only one of their last nine away games in the Champions League.

For the initial 45 minutes, Napoli played Gennaro Gattuso's strategy to flawlessness.

The hosts permitted Barca to have practically the entirety of the ball, however they were so sorted out in protection that the Blaugrana could discover no chance to get through.

Just once in the whole first half did Napoli lose their shape, and Lionel Messi discovered some space through the inside in the 27th minute. But the Argentinian couldn't give the correct ball to Griezmann to have an open door on objective.

Three minutes later, Piotr Zielinski pick-pocketed Junior Firpo somewhere down in Barca's half and squared over the edge of the punishment zone to Mertens. The Belgian created a magnificent, twisting completion into the top corner that Marc-Andre ter Stegen could just stand and watch.

Bousqets and Vidal suspend for next 2nd leg match

Not long before half-time, the German goalkeeper was almost left stranded once more, but Kostas Manolas' exertion from eight yards whistled barely wide of the post.

Per Squawka, in spite of their 70 per penny ownership, Barca neglected to summon a solitary shot on track in the initial 45 minutes.

Following 12 minutes of the subsequent half, however, they had the ball in the net.

Sergio Busquets, who will miss the second leg alongside Vidal in the wake of getting a yellow card, strung a lovely ball to Nelson Semedo past the Napoli safeguard, and Griezmann side-footed his squared pass high into the net past David Ospina.

The equalizer incited an adjustment in framework from Napoli, who started to press much higher, and in the 10 minutes following Barca's objective, Ter Stegen concocted two splendid recoveries to deny Lorenzo Insigne and Jose Callejon.

Napoli may live to lament those odds going asking, particularly surrendered Barca could accompany nothing better themselves in a considerably more open last 20 minutes.

The Blaugrana did, however, lose Vidal after he was given two yellow cards in the 89th moment for first fouling Mario Rui and then squaring up to him with a powerless and brainless headbutt.

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