Victor Osimhen scored in his first club appearance since December as they held Barcelona to 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday night.
Robert Lewandowski put Barca ahead in the 60th minute in Italy when he arrowed an effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Barcelona were dominant against a Napoli side whose final-third efforts were often lacking in Francesco Calzona’s first game in charge.
But Nigeria forward Osimhen levelled up with 15 minutes left of the first leg at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in his first match since returning from the African Cup of Nations.
He slipped past his marker in the box before superbly put the ball past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to level.
Osimhen had last played for Napoli in a 2-0 defeat at Roma just before Christmas, when he was one of two players from his team to be sent off.
His ninth club goal of the season came at a crucial time as he salvaged draw for Napoli in the campaign as they play under their third manager of the season in Francesco Calzona.
Victor Osimhen has scored six goals in his past six home Champions League games for Napoli
Calzona had less than 48 hours to prepare for his first match in charge after replacing Walter Mazzarri on Monday night, and Osimhen gave Napoli a chance of progressing despite a disjointed performance by his team.
Napoli head into next month’s second leg in the Catalan capital knowing that they with Osimhen in the team there is always a chance of a goal regardless of the overall team display.
Barcelona had the better chances but couldn’t put Napoli away and could yet pay for their wastefulness.
slipped past his marker in the box before superbly put the ball past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to level.
