Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said beating Napoli to reach the quarter-finals was one of his finest moments.
The Spanish champions won 3-1 at home to seal a 4-2 aggregate victory against the Italian Serie A winners, returning to the final eight for the first time since 2020.
"There has been a lot of unfair criticism, [that we were] the joke of the Champions League," Xavi said. "We had to be better than Napoli and we were - one of my best moments as Barcelona coach."
Teenagers Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi both excelled against Napoli as Barcelona became the first team in history to start two 17 or under players in a knockout-stage game.
Center-back Cubarsi, 17, was named player of the match. "He's got a lot of brains, he's patient, he's very humble," said Xavi. "We're looking at a top-level defender for years to come."
Fermin Lopez and Joao Cancelo fired Barcelona to a 2-0 lead but Amir Rrahmani pulled one back. Robert Lewandowski then swept home from close range.
Barcelona teenagers Pau Cubarsi, left, and Lamine Yamal both excelled against Napoli. REUTERS, AFP
