UCL: The King Of Naples Is Back, Victor Osimhen Nets Napoli Equalizer

Victor Osimhen celebrating his goal against Barcelona Wednesday night

Victor Osimhen salvages a draw in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 — Napoli 1-1 Barcelona

In his first game back for the team since December, Victor Osimhen helped Napoli to a 1-1 draw with Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16.

On Wednesday, Victor Osimhen made a unique comeback to action for Napoli following his goal that forced a 1-1 draw between the Italian champions and Barcelona in the Champions League round of 16.

Nigerian forward Osimhen scored the equalizer with fifteen minutes remaining in the first leg at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, on his first game back from the African Cup of Nations.

Also Read: Serie A: Napoli Hires A New Manager

Osimhen, who had served a ban in Napoli's previous game after returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty for runners-up Nigeria, stole clear in the penalty area with 15 minutes remaining to fire home an equaliser.

Robert Lewandowski's 93rd goal gave Barcelona a well-earned lead at the hour-mark.

It was Barca's first Champions League knockout match in three years, and it was also Napoli's first game since they fired head coach Walter Mazzarri after three months in office and brought Francesco Calzona in his place.

The struggling teams from last season—Spain and Italy—played a dreadful match in which neither team had any offensive flair or bite.

Barcelona dominated the first half against a disorganized Napoli team that could hardly get out of their own half, placing them third in the La Liga standings and eight points behind leaders Real Madrid.

Barca's intense pressing frustrated Napoli, as they made poor passes and let the ball get to the visitors, who also lacked creativity when in control of the ball.

In the sixty-minute mark, Poland's Lewandowski gave Barca the lead with a bullet strike into the bottom corner of the net after Pedri's pass just inside the box.

This startled Napoli, and Osimhen's excellent strike from inside the box 15 minutes later leveled the score at one.

“It is not a good result for the return leg.” Barca manager Xavi Hernandez.

“We were better in all aspects of the game, we had to control and we struggled, we weren't effective up front, it was a summary of our season.”

The second leg will take place on Tuesday, March 12 at 8:00 p.m. at the Estadio Olimpico de Montjuic.