The “Maradona Derby” lights up the memory of the most brilliant and dribbling Diego: his best goals with the Napoli and Barcelona shirts

THE Champions League he dresses up again to continue celebrating the first leg matches corresponding to the round of 16. Beyond Porto’s match against Arsenal, the match that will turn on all the lights this Wednesday has a special connection with Argentina. This is the intersection nicknamed by UEFA itself as the “Derby Maradona”. Yes, Naples AND Barcelonathe two European clubs where Diego was able to express himself at his best will kick off from 5pm in Italy.

It will be the first duel between the two clubs after the death of the ’10’, a perfect opportunity to honor Diego. It is inevitable not to recognize the mark he left on both teams.

This is why, depending on the situation, and using the excuse of the Champions League match, There is never a bad time to see Maradona back on the pitch.. On this occasion, his best goals with the shirts of Barcelona and Napoli.

From 1982 to 1984 was the period in which the Cosmic Kite crossed Spain, arriving from Boca. He knew how to score 38 goals in 58 games contested, although his stay did not have the desired effect due to the time spent off the playing field: he suffered a serious knee injury, a long suspension and hepatitis.

However, in those two seasons he was able to amaze the Catalan fans on more than one occasion. The most remembered of him is usually the goal against Real Madrid in the final of the now extinct 1983 League Cup, where With genius he managed to get the entire Santiago Bernabéu back on its feet. A goal achieved only by a privileged few.

Diego’s goals by hitting the ball against the goalkeeper were also one of his many trademarks throughout his career. And in Barcelona he was no exception. He said it clearly, surprising everyone table spoon from outside the box against Star Belgrade in 1982.

Leave your rivals on the street It was another of Diego’s specialties with the Blaugrana helmet. The clear example is a goal against Las Palmas for the Spanish championshipin which he tried to give an assist which, due to a rebound, forced him to push the ball over the line, surrounded by his opponents on the ground.

Beyond his huge stint 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.

In those six years the ’10’ scored goals in every way possible. Even if he did on 115 occasionsthere are so many that every repetition you see generates more doubts than certainties about the technique used to convert.

In that section enter your nickname “Impossible goal“. And a little’ free kick against Juventus, where despite a clear overtaking of the rival barrier, Maradona hit the corner after caressing the ball with a parabola, rarely seen, which allowed him to lower it in time despite the short distance from the goal. That goal led him to enter the hearts of all of Southern Italy, allowing the Northern team to beat.

As if that wasn’t enough with all the magic coming from his feet, Diego also scored headed goals in Napoli. Even if he also converted them with a personal imprint, as then against Arrigo Sacchi’s Milanwhere he managed to pass the ball past the goalkeeper from outside the area.

Pelusa also knew how to score goals from distance without prior control of the ball. Just remember when he stung the Lazio goalkeeper by hitting him from half a turn and change it in an unbeatable way.

And in case anything was missing from the section, it was a volley goal, like the one against Hellas Verona when he hit it just beyond midfield, 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, which leaves rivals on the path inside the area, rarely seen compression effects and even headers from a distance of 30 meters. In every way possible, Diego was converted. And who says that this afternoon, to honor him, Maradona’s derby will be resolved with a great goal worthy of his style.