SSC Napoli secured a 2-0 victory over Qarabağ FK in their UEFA Champions League group stage clash at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Italy.
The first half ended goalless, with both sides struggling to create clear chances. Napoli came close in the 35th minute when David Neres attempted a spectacular bicycle kick, only for Qarabağ goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski to make a fine save. The Azerbaijani side, known for their strong group-stage performances kept their shape well, largely frustrating the hosts.
Napoli were awarded a penalty in the 56th minute after captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo was tripped, but Kochalski saved Rasmus Hojlund’s effort, keeping the game level. Hojlund also headed wide from an unmarked position during a corner.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 66th minute when Scott McTominay, on loan from Manchester United, reacted quickly to a rebound to nod home past Kochalski. Six minutes later, Napoli doubled their advantage when an acrobatic effort from McTominay was inadvertently turned into an own goal by Qarabağ defender Marko Jankovic. Earlier, McTominay had raised his hands to apologise to the fans after being substituted following a string of goalless performances.
Polish referee Szymon Marciniak oversaw the match, assisted by Tomasz Listkiewicz and Adam Kupsik, with Dutch official Pol van Boekel in charge of VAR.
Napoli supporters paid tribute to Maradona in the 10th minute, chanting the legendary striker’s name in reference to his iconic shirt number.
Qarabağ entered the game with strong group stage performances, including a 3-2 win over Benfica, a 2-0 victory against Copenhagen, a 1-3 loss to Athletic Bilbao Club, and a 2-2 draw with Chelsea. The Azerbaijani side currently sits on 7 points, while Napoli had 4 points before Tuesday nights encounter.
The win allows Napoli to climb the group standings and keeps Qarabağ FK in contention as the group stage continues, setting up a tense race for qualification into the knockout stages.
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