The
Champions League
dresses up again to continue with the celebration of the first legs corresponding to the round of 16.
Beyond Porto's confrontation against Arsenal, the match that raises all the lights this Wednesday has a special Argentine connection.
This is the crossing nicknamed by UEFA itself as the
'Maradona Derby'
.
Yes,
Napoli
and
Barcelona
, the two European clubs where Diego knew how to show his best level, sparks will fly from 5:00 p.m. in Italy.
It will be the first duel between both clubs after the death of '10', a perfect opportunity to honor Diego.
It is inevitable not to recognize the mark that he left on both teams.
That is why, according to the situation, and using the Champions League match as an excuse,
it is never a bad time to see Maradona on the field again
.
On this occasion,
his best goals with the Barcelona and Napoli shirt
.
From 1982 to 1984 was the time that the Cosmic Kite lasted through Spain, arriving from Boca.
He was able to score
38 goals in 58 games
played, although his stay did not have the expected effect due to his time off the playing field: he suffered a severe knee injury, a long suspension and hepatitis.
However, during those two seasons he was able to amaze the Catalan fans on more than one occasion.
The most remembered is usually a goal against Real Madrid in the final of the now defunct 1983 League Cup, where
he brilliantly managed to bring the entire Santiago Bernabéu to its feet
.
A milestone that only a few privileged people achieved.
Diego's goals by hitting the ball at the goalkeeper were also one of his many trademarks throughout his career.
And in Barcelona it was no exception.
He made it clear when he surprised everyone by
spooning it
from outside the box against Star Belgrade in 1982
.
Leaving rivals on the road
was another of Diego's specialties with the Blaugrana helmet.
The clear example is a goal
against Las Palmas in the Spanish league
, in which he tried to give an assist that, due to a rebound, forced him to push the ball over the line, with rivals on the floor surrounding him.
Beyond his enormous time in Spanish football,
Diego's stay in Naples, which lasted from 1984 to 1990
, had such an impact that it led him to be considered a God to this day.
It is no coincidence that the stadium that will host the Champions League match has been named after Diego Maradona - former San Paolo - since Pelusa's departure.
A clear symbolization of what his name generates.
During those six years, the '10' scored goals in every possible way.
Although he did it
115 times
, there are a handful of times that in each repetition that one sees, more doubts are generated than certainties about the technique used to convert.
In that section enters the nickname
"impossible goal
."
It is a
free kick against Juventus
, where despite a clear overtaking of the rival barrier, Maradona nailed it in the corner after caressing the ball with a parabola, rarely seen again, which allowed him to lower it to time despite his short distance in front of the goal.
That goal led him to get into the heart of all of southern Italy by allowing the team from the north to beat.
As if all the magic that came from his feet wasn't enough,
Diego also scored header goals in Napoli
.
Although he also converted them with a personal mark, like that time
against Arrigo Sacchi's Milan
, where he managed to pass the ball over the goalkeeper from outside the area.
Pelusa also knew how to score long-distance goals without prior control of the ball.
You just have to remember when
he hit the Lazio goalkeeper by hitting him halfway
and changing his stick in an unbeatable way.
And in case the section was missing something, it was a
volley goal
, like the one against Hellas Verona when he hit it just past half way, taking advantage of the fact that the goalkeeper was ahead.
Of course, the idea was successful by once again applying a supernatural effect.
Free kick, leaving rivals in the path inside the area, squeezing effects rarely seen and even headers from a distance of 30 meters.
In every way possible, Diego converted.
And who says that this afternoon, to honor him, the Maradona Derby is resolved by a great goal worthy of his style.