Gonzalo Higuain’s hat-trick saw Napoli fight back to end Dinamo Moscow’s unbeaten Europa record, 3-1 at the San Paolo.
The Partenopei had kept five consecutive clean sheets, a new Europa League record, and were unbeaten in 10 continental home games. Manolo Gabbiadini missed out, while Artur Yusupov was suspended and Igor Denisov injured. Dinamo were not to be underestimated, as they won all six group games and were still unbeaten from the third preliminary round with nine wins and three draws.
Gonzalo Higuain’s hat-trick saw Napoli fight back to end Dinamo Moscow’s unbeaten Europa record, 3-1 at the San Paolo.
The Partenopei had kept five consecutive clean sheets, a new Europa League record, and were unbeaten in 10 continental home games. Manolo Gabbiadini missed out, while Artur Yusupov was suspended and Igor Denisov injured. Dinamo were not to be underestimated, as they won all six group games and were still unbeaten from the third preliminary round with nine wins and three draws.
The Russians confirmed their extraordinary form by taking the lead within 120 seconds. Mariano Andujar parried a long-range Yuri Zhirkov strike, then Kevin Kuranyi nodded in on the resulting corner.
The Stadio San Paolo crowd was in absolute shock, even more so when Kalidou Koulibaly went off after just eight minutes and Kuranyi threatened to score an identical goal to the first.
Napoli did get back on track with Gonzalo Higuain with a glancing header on a Faouzi Ghoulam cross from the left. It was Pipita’s fourth European goal of the season.
Moments later, the referee pointed to the spot for Mathieu Valbuena’s foul on Dries Mertens and Higuain converted from the spot, completing the rapid turnaround.
Gokhan Inler tested Vladimir Gabulov from distance, but Dinamo went down to 10 men straight after the restart due to Roman Zobnin’s second bookable offence on Ghoulam.
Higuain completed his hat-trick with a sensational left-foot volley on Mertens’ cross.
Jose Callejon wasted a great chance to increase the advantage, while Mertens had more penalty appeals and Raul Albiol got away with an error on Valbuena’s free kick, as Christopher Samba wasn’t ready to take advantage.
Inler had a couple of trademark long-rangers dealt with and Mertens skimmed the woodwork after combining with Marek Hamsik. Juan Camilo Zuniga made his comeback after almost five months.
Balazs Dzsudzsak threatened to get another away goal for Dinamo Moscow with a remarkable left-foot free kick from 20 metres out.
Napoli 3-1 Dinamo Moscow
Scorers: Kuranyi 2 (D), Higuain 25, pen 31, 55 (N)
Napoli: Andujar; Henrique, Koulibaly (Albiol 8), Britos, Ghoulam; Jorginho, Inler; Callejon (Zuniga 82), De Guzman (Hamsik 70), Mertens; Higuain
Dinamo Moscow: Gabulov; Kozlov, Hubocan, Samba, Zhirkov; Valbuena (Ionov 72), Zobnin, Vainqueur, Dzsudzsak (Tashaev 92); Kuranyi (Buttner 62), Kokorin
Ref: Sidiropoulos (GRE)
Sent off: Zobnin 46 (D)