Barcelona vs Napoli: Five things we learned as Lionel Messi dominates in Champions League last 16

Barcelona saw off Napoli in the Champions League last-16 second leg to progress to the quarters in Portugal.

Clement Lenglet opened the scoring with a free header off a corner just 10 minutes in, before Lionel Messi then took a central starring role.

The Barca No. 10 waltzed between two tackles and bent in a curling effort to double the lead midway through the first half, before he had another strike ruled out and then won a penalty—all before half-time.

Luis Suarez netted the spot-kick, before Lorenzo Insigne did exactly the same at the other end two minutes later to give Barcelona a 3-1 lead at the break, which remained the score at full-time for a 4-2 aggregate win.

Here are five things we learned from the match at the Camp Nou.

Setien’s job, Setien’s tactics

There had been rumours ahead of the game, particularly though Spanish national media outlets, that a defeat here could spell the end of manager Quique Setien’s reign.

The Barca boss said he wasn’t thinking about it, but he’d probably be aware of the consequences of failure after losing out in LaLiga, too.

No fears of his time ending just yet, then—and the diamond system he has found success with in several games over the past month or so is surely Barcelona’s best route to success in the next few weeks.

While it still doesn’t put Antoine Griezmann front-and-centre of the attack, he is at least on the pitch and involved for Barca, tonight in behind Messi and Suarez more often than not, while the midfield also grew into the game as it went on, showing good ability to dominate play and crowd out Napoli in possession.

The return of Sergio Busquets for the last eight is another positive to look forward to, but Setien shouldn’t think about changing a whole lot else.

Messi remains rather good

Just in case anyone had thought about casting doubts on the world’s best player and his enduring quality, Messi once more here showed he can change a game and run a game whenever he desires.

Barca’s magical captain scored an outrageous first—perhaps a question mark over the ‘keeper’s reach, mind—would have had an equally good second if not for a debatable officiating call, then won the penalty through industry and opportunism.

Aside from those on-the-ball moments in the box, his one-touch play, his movement into space and his willingness to swap positions with Griezmann made him, yet again, untouchable for the opposition defence.

Tactics and managerial decisions aside, Barcelona’s best route to Champions League success still lies with their talisman. Get him the ball and give him options, and the Catalan side have a chance.

VAR frustrations

Four minutes to decide if Kalidou Koulibaly had kicked Lionel Messi. More than two minutes to determine Messi had handballed as he controlled with his chest and clipped home what would have been his second goal.

One looked an obvious one to give, the other looked anything but obvious, yet was still given.

It’s an ongoing process, we know this, but the clarity around why decisions are made and how long it takes to achieve some calls is still absurdly lacking.

Given the time just for those stoppages, let alone the four goals, it’s also puzzling as to why only five minutes were added on at the end of the first half.

Supporting cast

It would be a mistake to say this Barcelona win was all about Messi. Of course he was a huge part, but other, lesser-heralded players also put in a good shift on the night.

First among them was Nelson Semedo, the starting right-back who enjoyed the space in front of him created by the midfield shape. He was a constant outlet, dribbled past challenges whenever possible and linked well with the attack.

Frenkie de Jong was similarly impressive, left of the diamond more often than not and gradually showing his ability on the ball, his vision and his work rate. Still not vintage De Jong, but better, certainly.

Others have to keep stepping up for Barca and several did so this evening.

Bayern next up

So it’s off to Portugal for the rest of the Champions League.

Bayern Munich are next up for Barca and it will, without question, be a far greater test than this was.

Bayern’s lineup is more settled, more tactically assured and more physically impressive than Setien’s team is and it’s not a stretch to suggest that the winners of the tie may go all the way—and Barca will start as underdogs.

There’s all to play for across just 90 minutes, and perhaps Messi’s class might tell even more in those circumstances.