Champions league: Lewa and Osimhen share honours in draw; Arsenal lose 0-1

Naples, February 22

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It was hyped as a match-up between high-scoring centre-forwards Robert Lewandowski and Victor Osimhen and both strikers found the net in a 1-1 draw between Barcelona and Napoli in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16.

Lewandowski shot through the legs of Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo and inside the near post on the hour mark for his 93rd goal in the top club competition.

Osimhen replied 15 minutes later with a shot from near the penalty spot after leaving his marker on the ground for his sixth goal in Napoli’s last six home matches in the Champions League.

“We conceded practically nothing besides that goal,” Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said. “I really liked the way team played.”

“It was a good performance against a strong team with great players,” Di Lorenzo said. “We were solid. It’s a good starting point.”

The second leg is scheduled for March 12 in Spain.

Arsenal concede late goal

Porto: Wenderson Galeno came through for Porto with the final whistle about to blow. Now, Arsenal need to rally to return to the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time since 2010.

Galeno scored deep into stoppage time to give Porto a 1-0 win in the first leg of the Round of 16 on Wednesday. The English team will need a victory in the return leg in London on March 12 to make it back to the last-eight of Europe’s elite club competition.

Galeno broke the deadlock with a right-footed shot into the far corner four minutes into added time. — AP