Jordi Alba, Frenkie de Jong, Gerard Pique and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got on the score-sheet to secure an impressive win for the Catalan club and seal their passage into Europa League last-16.
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Barcelona head coach Xavi was delighted with his side’s performance in the 4-2 win over Napoli in the Europa League Play-offs second leg fixture at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium on Thursday. The win helped the Catalan club to go through to the last-16 of the competition via a 5-3 aggregate victory. Jordi Alba, Frenkie de Jong, Gerard Pique and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got on the score-sheet to secure an impressive win for the La Liga giants. Meanwhile Napoli scored two goals through Lorenzo Insigne and Matteo Politano.
“A complete win”
— Xavi’s reaction to #NapoliBarça pic.twitter.com/MdHbcpIgBY
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 25, 2022
It was a dominant performance from Xavi’s side as they were incredibly good while going forward. The midfielders controlled the game, wingers were too hot for Napoli to handle and the finishing was at its best.
“It was our most complete performance so far,” Xavi said. “We looked to dominate the game and we managed that. I am really happy with the team’s effort.
“We played really well: we knew how to find the free man, high pressure, pressing after losing the ball … we dominated, as we did at home as well. The result is fair. I am really happy for players who are working so hard. This is the path to follow, we’re on the right track.
In the first leg match at Camp Nou last week, the Serie A side defended deep, giving very little space for the Barca attackers to work with. However the second leg was different as both sides needed a win to go through, therefore Napoli pressed higher up the pitch, leaving space at the back, which the visitors exploited.
The first goal was a perfect example of that, as Aubameyang led a counter-attack from his own penalty area after a poor corner-kick from Insigne and released Traore, who used his pace and upper-body strength to shrug off defenders and dribble forward before laying the ball for Alba to fire in expertly.
“Napoli pressed us high a lot, generating space for us,” he added. “We had to take advantage of those spaces. From a Napoli corner, we’ve (scored) from a counter-attack straight out of the playbook. We understood how to use the free man, we took advantage of Adama, Ferran and Auba.”
De Jong was one of the standout players in Naples as he scored a superb goal from outside the box on 13 minutes to double the lead and was very good with his ball distribution.
“I think he played brilliantly,” Xavi said. “The goal was great as well. He’s full of confidence and getting better. He had a knock when we took over the team, nothing significant, but now he’s fresh, dynamic, talented, he gets into the box… He has to be an important player for the team for many years.”
