Napoli picked up a crucial UEFA Champions League league phase victory on a wet night at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, beating Qarabag 2-0 in a match where Scott McTominay once again proved decisive.
Qarabag arrived in southern Italy unfazed by Napoli’s impressive 19-match unbeaten home run in all competitions and started on the front foot, showing energy and defensive organisation that matched the occasion. In steady drizzle, the visitors disciplined shape restricted Napoli for long spells, with the first half short on real chances.
As the half wore on, Napoli gradually found their rhythm. A moment of real quality almost broke the deadlock when David Neres met a Noa Lang cross with an acrobatic effort that seemed destined for the top corner, only for Qarabag goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski to produce a superb save, springing to his left to push the ball away. Soon after, captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo slipped at the crucial moment when bursting through on goal, summing up a frustrating opening period for the hosts.
After the break, Napoli increased the pressure and were handed a golden opportunity when Di Lorenzo was brought down just inside the area. Rasmus Hojlund stepped up to take the penalty, but his effort was too central, and Kochalski saved, keeping Qarabag level and further underlining his impressive performance.
⏹️ Full time#NapoliQarabag 2-0
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Napoli continued to probe, and eventually their persistence paid off. Kochalski could only parry a close-range effort back into a crowded box, and McTominay reacted quickest, nodding home from close range. It was a much simpler finish than his spectacular international goal in recent days, but no less important for Napoli and their European ambitions.
With Qarabag now forced to open up and chase an equaliser, space began to appear for Antonio Conte’s side. Kochalski kept his team in the contest with a brilliant double save as Napoli threatened to close the game out on the counter.
The second goal arrived with around twenty minutes remaining. McTominay again made the difference, this time glancing on a cross which struck substitute Samy Mmaee and bounced past his own goalkeeper for an unfortunate own goal that effectively ended Qarabag’s hopes of a comeback.
In heavy conditions and against stubborn opposition, Napoli had to work hard to find a way through, but did enough to claim their second win of the league phase. The result lifts them up to eighteenth in the standings and, with McTominay once more at the heart of the key moments, offers a timely boost as their Champions League campaign gathers momentum.
