Arkadiusz Milik bagged a brace of headers for Napoli’s perfect Champions League start, winning 2-1 away to 10-man Dynamo Kiev.
Besiktas and Benfica drew 1-1, so the Italians lead their group on three points.
See how the night unfolded on our Liveblog.
Arkadiusz Milik bagged a brace of headers for Napoli’s perfect Champions League start, winning 2-1 away to 10-man Dynamo Kiev.
Besiktas and Benfica drew 1-1, so the Italians lead their group on three points.
See how the night unfolded on our Liveblog.
The Partenopei made their return to this competition after two years and relied on Arek Milik and Dries Mertens rather than Manolo Gabbiadini and Lorenzo Insigne. Dynamo Kiev reached the Round of 16 last season, but had Danilo Silva injured and pulled a few surprises, moving left-back Yevhen Makarenko to the right of defence, Denys Garmash and 18-year-old Viktor Tysgankov in midfield.
It was a huge scare in the opening 45 seconds, as Raul Albiol’s poor pass was straight at Serhiy Sydorchuk, who tried a lob from the centre-circle and forced Pepe Reina to fingertip over his bar.
However, after that early concern, Napoli took absolute control in Kiev, dominating possession and putting together a series of corners. Marek Hamsik’s effort was charged down at the end of a long passing move, but Serhiy Rybalka’s snapshot was deflected wide off Allan.
For all their domination of possession, Napoli created very little and went behind when Tsygankov knocked down an Andriy Yarmolenko cross for a well-taken half-volley on the turn by Denys Garmash from seven yards.
There were more dangers on the counter, but Napoli equalised when Faouzi Ghoulam whipped in a cross from the left that Milik soared to nod back across the face of goal.
Ghoulam was decisive at the other end soon after, rushing across to block Junior Moraes, but it should’ve been 2-1 when Mertens pounced on a poor pass and went for goal with a fierce shot at a tight angle rather than cross for Callejon sliding in at the far post. The Spaniard was furious with his teammate and let it be known.
In first half stoppages it was indeed 2-1 to Napoli. Callejon’s cross saw Mertens with a looping header cleared off the line, but only as far as Milik for another crucial header from six yards.
Napoli seemed to control their lead a little more in the second half, Mertens decisively tackled by Yevhen Khacheridi when running on to a Piotr Zielinski through ball. The Belgian then curled a low effort on to the base of the far post on 63 minutes.
Dynamo Kiev went down to 10 men when Sydorchuk dived as he ran past Raul Albiol and it was his second bookable offence of the evening.
Sarri’s men appeared content to sit back and allowed Dynamo Kiev several corners, though Milik at full stretch just failed to get on the end of a long Ghoulam pass.
At the 88th minute Dynamo Kiev had a dangerous free kick just outside the box, but Yarmolenko fired well over.
Dynamo Kiev 1-2 Napoli
Garmash 26 (D), Milik 36, 45 (N)
Dynamo Kiev: Shovkovskiy; Makarenko, Vida, Khacheridi, Antunes; Yarmolenko, Sydorchuk, Rybalka (Korzun 82), Garmash, Tsygankov (Gusev 73); Junior Moraes (Gladkiy 87)
Napoli: Reina; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Allan, Jorginho, Hamsik (Zielinski 61); Callejon, Milik (Gabbiadini 82), Mertens (Insigne 73)
Ref: Collum (SCO)
Sent off: Sydorchuk 68 (D)