Robert Lewandowski made Barcelona history by scoring the solitary goal in their 1-1 draw against Napoli in the Champions League.
The Polish striker opened the scoring in Naples, but Victor Osimhen equalized for the home side just 15 minutes later, leaving the tie finely poised for the second leg.
Lewandowski’s goal not only impacted the match but also saw him surpass a record previously held by Barcelona legend Lionel Messi. By finding the net at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Lewandowski became the oldest player to score for Barcelona in the Champions League, at the age of 35 years and 184 days.
This achievement eclipsed Messi’s previous record set at 33 years and 259 days when he scored against PSG in March 2021.
With the second leg scheduled for March 12 at the Nou Camp, Napoli still has a chance to progress in the competition.
Reflecting on Barcelona’s performance, coach Xavi expressed a mix of emotions. While pleased with certain aspects of their play, he highlighted a lack of authority throughout the match.
“It is a bittersweet feeling because we had the game in our hands,” Xavi stated in his post-game news conference. “We played well defensively, but in crucial moments, we lacked control and the ability to dominate and be aggressive.”
Despite the disappointment, Xavi remains proud of the team’s overall performance and emphasized the need for maturity in managing games effectively.
