Knocking out Napoli could bring even more good luck to Barça

Knocking out Napoli could bring even more good luck to Barça

Messi nos volvió a enamorar con este golazo / | MEDIAPRO

The previous two occasions that Napoli went out at this stage of the Champions League, the team who beat them went on to win the competition

FC Barcelona are in the final eight of the Champions League after beating Napoli. However, aside from moving on in the competition, there's another curious stat which comes from knocking out the Italian team. This was the third time Napoli had made the round of 16 and the third time they fell short.

In the 2011/12 and 2016/17 seasons, Napoli reached the same stage. However, the two teams who knocked them out would later go on to win the competition. Could Barça make it three in a row?

2011/12 Season: Chelsea won in extra time

Chelsea lifted the Champions League under Jose Mourinho after beating Bayern Munich on penalties in the final. They squeezed past Barça in the semis, Benfica in the quarters and Napoli in the last 16. After a 3-1 loss in Italy, Mourinho's men matched the scoreline at Stamford Bridge. A 105th-minute goal from Ivanovic saw Chelsea move on to the next round.

2016-2017 Season: Real Madrid ease past Napoli

Despite Napoli finishing top of their group and Real Madrid second to Dortmund in theirs, it was smooth sailing for Zinedine Zidane in the last 16 match. They won both legs 3-1. Madrid went on to beat Bayern, Atletico and then Juventus in the final.

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