Barcelona's French defender Samuel Umtiti (center) vies for the ball with Napoli's Polish forward Arkadiusz Milik (left) during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first-leg football match between SSC Napoli and FC Barcelona at the San Paolo Stadium in Naples on Feb 25, 2020. (FILIPPO MONTEFORTE / AFP)

WARSAW - SSC Napoli striker Arkadiusz Milik was disappointed that his team wasn't able to beat FC Barcelona on Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16.

Dries Mertens put Napoli in front but after the break, Antoine Griezmann leveled the score

Dries Mertens put the hosts in front but after the break, Antoine Griezmann leveled the score. In the closing stages, the team coached by Gennaro Gattuso, created few chances but couldn't find the winning goal.

"We've created several clear situations. It is a pity that we didn't score more," Arkadiusz Milik said in the interview for the Polish TV Polsat. "We wanted to do everything to win at home because the match at Camp Nou will be even more difficult."

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The attacker was expected to start for Napoli but he came from the bench in the 54th minute by replacing Dries Mertens. As it turned out, the Pole had a minor knee injury.

"I lost my place in the first eleven as I felt pain, I regret that. It's good to have Mertens in our team. The revitalization is the thing we need, but everyone wants to play from the start," said the Polish striker who had undergone two serious surgeries.

The return match will take place on March 18 in Spain.