Barcelona’s miserable knockout record in Italy continues despite salvaging Napoli draw

Barcelona were held to a 1-1 draw away to Napoli on Tuesday, extending their unimpressive winless run in Champions League knockout matches in Italy to six.

Quique Setien’s men fell behind late in the first half to Dries Mertens’ gorgeous 25-yard strike, seeing the Belgian go level with Marek Hamsik as the club’s all-time leading scorer on 121.

Barca did rescue a draw that at least sees them return home with an away goal, and therefore an advantage, with Antoine Griezmann equalising despite an otherwise anonymous outing.

Still, Barca – who had Arturo Vidal sent off towards the end – remain winless away to Italian opposition in the knockout phase of the Champions League since a 1-0 victory at Milan in April 2006, when Napoli’s incumbent coach Gennaro Gattuso was in the Rossoneri midfield.