Champions League: Barca survives Napoli scare; Bayern thumps Chelsea

By Matias Grez and John Sinnott, CNN

Updated 5:55 p.m. ET, February 25, 2020
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5:55 p.m. ET, February 25, 2020

Until next time

Matias Grez

That's all for this evening's action but we'll be back tomorrow to cover the final first-leg ties of this round of 16.

Bayern Munich undoubtedly put on the performance of the night, hammering Chelsea 3-0 in its own back yard to all but guarantee a place in the quarterfinals.

In the away end, the Bayern fans protested the price of Champions League away tickets; tonight's costly trip saw them pay £55 ($71.50).

You can read more about the fans' ongoing protests and Bayern's scintillating performance in our match report here.

Bayern Munich fans protest Champions League ticket prices.
Bayern Munich fans protest Champions League ticket prices.

Elsewhere, Napoli and Barcelona played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in Italy.

Many fans in the San Paolo were wearing protective face masks amid the country's coronavirus outbreak that has resulted in 11 deaths and more than 280 infections.

On the pitch, after Dries Mertens had given Napoli the lead with a stunning first-half strike, Barcelona grabbed a crucial away goal through Antoine Griezmann.

Join us tomorrow as Real Madrid hosts Manchester City and Juventus travels to Lyon.

5:35 p.m. ET, February 25, 2020

Home discomforts

Matias Grez

For years under Jose Mourinho, Chelsea appeared invincible at Stamford Bridge ... how things have changed.

The stadium is no longer the fortress it once was as Chelsea was made to suffer on home soil once again this season.

5:22 p.m. ET, February 25, 2020

Lewandowski eyes another record

Matias Grez

Robert Lewandowski just can't stop scoring ... and he's got one of Cristiano Ronaldo's Champions League records in his sights.

5:16 p.m. ET, February 25, 2020

Is there any stopping Bayern Munich?

Matias Grez

The omens may not be good for Bayern Munich if past events are anything to go by ... but this team looks seriously impressive in the Champions League this season.

5:01 p.m. ET, February 25, 2020

Full time: Chelsea 0-3 Bayern Munich

That was a bad, bad evening for Chelsea.

Bayern Munich was absolutely scintillating and inflicts Chelsea's heaviest defeat in European competition.

Alphonso Davies, Serge Gnabry and Robert Lewandowski were unstoppable going forward and you'd have to say Chelsea's time in the Champions League this season is over.

Bayern Munich players celebrate at full time.
Bayern Munich players celebrate at full time.  GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images

4:58 p.m. ET, February 25, 2020

Full time: Napoli 1-1 Barcelona

Matias Grez

Despite playing the final six minutes with only 10 men, Barcelona looked in control and will be confident of getting the better of Napoli in the return leg.

Dries Mertens' stunning strike in the first half broke the deadlock, before some nice build-up play saw Barcelona equalize through Antoine Griezmann in the second period.

Lionel Messi had a quiet night against Napoli.
Lionel Messi had a quiet night against Napoli. FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images

It was an interesting clash of styles between two managers -- Gennaro Gattuso and Quique Setien -- making their Champions League debuts as coaches.

By his ludicrously high standards, that was a very quiet night for Lionel Messi who rarely looked in the game.

One final flashpoint saw Arturo Vidal sent off for a challenge and clash of heads with Mario Rui.

4:49 p.m. ET, February 25, 2020

Red!

Matias Grez

Barcelona will play the remaining few minutes of this match with with 10 men after Arturo Vidal receives his marching orders.

The Chilean picks up two yellow cards in the same incident; the first for his foul on Mario Ruiz and the second for squaring up to the Portuguese full back.

Can Barcelona hold on?

4:43 p.m. ET, February 25, 2020

Red card!

Chelsea's evening goes from bad to worse as defender Marcos Alonso is shown a red card following a VAR review.

The referee had initially only given Alonso a yellow after he tangled with Robert Lewandowski ... several viewings later and a sending off looks a very, very harsh decision.

4:40 p.m. ET, February 25, 2020

Not Messi's night

Matias Grez

Lionel Messi has looked surprisingly off the pace in Naples this evening.

On several occasions he's not been able to sort his feet out in attack and his passing has been well off his usual high standards.

To top it off, he's picked up a yellow card for catching Napoli goalkeeper David Ospina in the chest with his studs.

Lionel Messi received a yellow card for a foul on David Ospina.
Lionel Messi received a yellow card for a foul on David Ospina. Michael Steele/Getty Images