Xavi pinpoints Barcelona weakness despite 'pride' in Napoli performance

Xavi believes Barcelona deserved to emerge victorious from their 1-1 draw with Napoli in the Champions League but confessed his side lacked the "maturity" needed to get over the line in the first leg.

Barcelona took the lead in Naples on the hour mark through Robert Lewandowski but were later pegged back by Victor Osimhen with what was Napoli's only shot on target in the Game.

"It is a bittersweet feeling because we had the Game in our hands," Xavi told the media after the Game. "We played well. We defended well; Napoli didn't create much, but in the moment [after taking the lead] we lacked control when we needed to dominate, show personality and be aggressive.

"It's a shame. It was a good performance in general and I am proud of the image we have shown Europe. This is the Barca we want, but we lacked maturity to [manage the Game].

"Maybe physically they were stronger than us in individual duels, but playing this way we have good chance of going through and will win more than we lose."

Xavi also heaped praise on Lewandowski for his return to form - the Polish international having faced a barrage of criticism for a perceived drop in performance levels - after he netted his fifth goal in as many Games.

Lamine Yamal
Barcelona were held to a draw / Anadolu/GettyImages

"Lewandowski is playing for the team now," the Spaniard said. "He has taken a step forward. He's winning his individual battles, he's together with the team and pressing high.

"He's a natural leader and he wants to improve. He's helping a lot at the moment and it's more about that, the goals are a consequence of his good play."

Barcelona host Napoli on March 12 for the return leg but will do so at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, with usual home Camp Nou still under renovation.

"Of course we miss Camp Nou," the boss confessed. "I said in pre-season it would be a difficult year away from the stadium. It's not same playing at [the Olympic Stadium] as Camp Nou, but it should not affect us. It's a shame because imagine the second leg at Camp Nou, it would be different - for us and the opposition."

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