Barca’s victory meant that the tie ended with a 4-2 aggregate score.
Quick goals from Fermin Lopez and Joao Cancelo set the tone for the hosts, and although Amir Rrahmani narrowed the gap before halftime, Lewandowski sealed the deal.
Having never triumphed against Barcelona in their previous five encounters, Napoli found themselves on the losing end once more, echoing their 2020 Champions League clash where they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at home following a 1-1 draw in Naples.
The victory marked Barcelona’s first knockout stage win in the competition since that encounter in 2020, also securing their advancement to the quarter-finals.
Arsenal edge out Porto
In the other last-16 clash on Tuesday,
Arsenal edged past Porto in a nerve-wracking affair, to secure a spot in the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in 14 years, surviving a tense penalty shootout after the tie ended 1-1 on aggregate.
The Arsenal side featured Polish defender Jakub Kiwior who is gradually making the left back role his own, despite stiff opposition from Ukrainian Oleksandr Zinchenko (who featured in extra time) and Japanese full back Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Despite Porto’s 1-0 victory in the first leg, Arsenal, the Premier League leaders, faced resilient opposition, igniting fears among fans of another European disappointment.
Although Leandro Trossard’s well-executed goal just before halftime equalized the tie, Arsenal encountered difficulties in breaking down Porto’s disciplined defense, despite creating several promising opportunities.
With extra time failing to produce a winner, Mikel Arteta’s squad showcased composure to end a streak of seven consecutive exits at the last-16 stage.
Both Barcelona and Arsenal can now look forward to featuring in Friday’s Champions League quarter final draw.
