In a thrilling encounter at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, Napoli held Barcelona to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of sixteen. The hosts put up a formidable performance, halting the Spanish champions despite an initial onslaught from the visitors.

The clash between two former teams of Argentine legends captivated football fans on Wednesday, February 21. While Barcelona enjoyed early dominance, Napoli's resilient defense thwarted their attempts to find the back of the net.

Despite weathering Barcelona's attacking prowess, Napoli gradually found their footing in the match. However, their possession dominance before halftime failed to translate into clear scoring opportunities, with both teams heading into the break deadlocked at 0-0.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 60th minute of the second half when Barcelona's Lewandowski capitalized on a defensive lapse to put the visitors ahead. However, Napoli responded with determination, as Victor Osimen found the equalizer in the 75th minute with a clinical finish on the counter-attack.

With both teams unable to break the deadlock in the remaining minutes of the game, the match ended in a hard-fought 1-1 draw. As the teams head into the second leg, the tie remains finely balanced, with Napoli holding the advantage of an away goal.

The thrilling encounter showcased the competitive spirit of both sides, setting the stage for an exciting second leg as they vie for a spot in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.