Barcelona sweep Napoli aside to make Europa League last 16

Barcelona cruised into the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday after comfortably seeing off Napoli 4-2 to go through 5-3 on aggregate in a serious show of force. Barcelona were on top almost from the start in Naples because of Jordi Alba expertly finishing a lightning counter-attack from a Napoli corner, and Frenkie de Jong’s superb long effort effectively ended the tie with three-quarters of the game to play.

Barca manager Xavi’s thrilling side might have had more before Lorenzo Insigne briefly gave the hosts hope from the penalty spot mid-way through the first half, and Gerard Pique ensured there would be no Napoli comeback on the stroke of half-time.

A sobering night for Napoli, who are chasing a first Serie A title in three decades, was capped not long before the hour mark by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, impressive up front for a dynamic Barca team which seems as though it can go as far as possible in the competition.

“We dominated we for 90 minutes and that’s the first time we’ve done that since I became coach,” Xavi told reporters.

“It’s a win over a team which I repeat is a Champions League-level team, one which does not concede many goals and is fighting for the league title.”