Goals from Fermín López, João Cancelo and Robert Lewandowski secured victory for Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg against Napoli.

Barcelona have now reached the last eight of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in four years.

Blaugrana boss Xavi Hernández, who had started with 16-year-old Lamine Yamal in the 1-1 draw in Naples – making him the youngest player to begin a knockout stage match in this competition – kept faith in youth by drafting in 17-year-old defender Pau Cubarsí for his Champions League debut.

It was a 20-year-old who broke the deadlock just 15 minutes in, with Fermín López calmly picking his spot after Raphinha’s intelligent delivery.

The Brazilian international was instrumental in Barcelona doubling their lead just over two minutes later, collecting a pass following a storming run from deep by Yamal, before cutting inside and striking the post with a curling right-footed shot.

João Cancelo was quickest to the rebound, sweeping his low effort into the net out of Alex Meret’s reach.

The journey has been difficult since that last time in the quarter-finals in the 2019/20 season, which was unusually a single match against Bayern Munich due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The following season, 2020/21, saw Barça lose in the round of 16 against PSG, while the past two seasons saw the blaugranes compete in the Europa League after finishing third in the group stage.

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