Dries Mertens matched the all-time Napoli goal-scoring record, but Antoine Griezmann tapped in the Barcelona equaliser and Arturo Vidal saw red in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16.
Antoine Griezmann's second Champions League goal for Barcelona helped the LaLiga giants secure a 1-1 draw against Napoli in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Quique Setien's side were insipid in the first half and deservedly went behind to Dries Mertens' superb strike after 30 minutes at the Stadio San Paolo.
Napoli lost Mertens to injury early in the second half and their advantage was erased before the hour mark when Griezmann, who had previously cut an isolated figure in attack, thundered home after a flowing move.
The hosts squandered two golden opportunities to restore their advantage soon after, with Barca ultimately holding on despite Arturo Vidal's late dismissal to take a precious away goal back to Camp Nou in three weeks' time.
Match Events
9' Messi fires his shot into the sky
OVER! Messi weaves his way to the edge of the box and combines with De Jong. However, under pressure, the Argentine can only lift his left-footed strike over the bar.
30' GOAL! Napoli 1-0 Barcelona (Mertens)
The home side take the lead through an incisive break and super finish from Mertens.
Zielinski robs Firpo of possession and charges forward into the right inside channel. He cuts a low ball back towards the edge of the box for the Belgian. Mertens takes one touch before curling his effort away from Ter Stegen into the top-right corner.
49' Yellow Card! Busquets booked and will miss 2nd leg
Busquets unleashes a reckless challenge on Mertens and receives a yellow card for the stamp. Mertens cannot play on and is later subbed off.
57' GOAL! Napoli 1-1 Barcelona (Griezmann)
Barcelona are back in the game as Griezmann converts from close range.
Busquets releases the run of Semedo down the right inside channel and he times his run to perfection. The Portuguese sends a low cross into the middle for unmarked Griezmann, who hammers a right-footed effort past Ospina.
60' CLOSE! Ter Stegen denies Insigne's effort
SAVE! Insigne weaves his way between Semedo and Pique in the right inside channel and then tries to catch out Ter Stegen with a low strike that is well saved by the Barca keeper at his near post.
76' CHANCE! Umtiti header over the bar
OVER! Messi swings the corner into dangerous area and Umtiti rises to head at goal ahead of Ospina, but he can only glance it over from six yards. The Frenchman just mistimes his jump to miscue his effort.
87' Red Card! Vidal sent off after two yellows
OFF! Vidal receives two yellow cards in the space of a second. One for the challenge on Rui and the other for the aforementioned headbutt on the defender. He's not happy, but he has to go. He receives quite a send from the home supporters.
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