On this day 31 years ago, Napoli beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the first leg of their victorious UEFA Cup semi-final.
Napoli booked their place in the 1988-89 last four after having overturned their quarter-final with Juventus, coming back from 2-0 down in the first leg to win 3-2 on aggregate.
However, they came into the tie on the back of a 4-2 home defeat to the Bianconeri in Serie A and looked to be wounded.
Bayern, meanwhile, had just seen their 23-game unbeaten run in the Bundesliga ended by Borussia Monchengladbach.
On this day 31 years ago, Napoli beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the first leg of their victorious UEFA Cup semi-final.
Napoli booked their place in the 1988-89 last four after having overturned their quarter-final with Juventus, coming back from 2-0 down in the first leg to win 3-2 on aggregate.
However, they came into the tie on the back of a 4-2 home defeat to the Bianconeri in Serie A and looked to be wounded.
Bayern, meanwhile, had just seen their 23-game unbeaten run in the Bundesliga ended by Borussia Monchengladbach.
An 82,000-strong crowd filled up the San Paolo for what was, at the time, the most important match in the Partenopei’s history.
All eyes were on Napoli’s deadly duo of Diego Maradona and Careca in attack, and they duly delivered to the delirium of the home fans.
Yet it was goalkeeper Giuliano Giuliani who arguably made the most telling impact, blocking Norbert Nachtweit’s thunderous volley from close range early on.
In doing so, Giuliani prevented Bayern from not only taking the lead but also scoring a precious away goal, which could’ve swung the tie in their favour.
That laid down the foundations for Maradona and Careca to run the Germans rugged, with the No 10 dropping a deft through ball for his Brazilian strike partner to fire home.
Andrea Carnevale then crashed a diving header on to the post, but he wasn’t to be denied a second time, rising highest to turn in Maradona’s deep cross.
Napoli would draw the second leg 2-2 and ultimately win their one and only UEFA Cup, beating fellow German side Stuttgart 5-4 over two games.
Despite their European success that season, they just came short for a domestic double, finishing runners-up to Inter for the Scudetto and losing to Sampdoria in a two-legged Coppa Italia Final.
Napoli 2-0 Bayern Munich
Careca 41, Carnevale 60
Napoli: Giuliani, Renica, Fusi, Ferrara, Corradini, Francini, De Napoli, Alemao, Maradona (Carannante 81), Carnevale, Careca
Bayern Munich: Aumann, Reuter, Johnsen (Grahammer 81), Augenthaler, Thon, Nachtweih, Kogl, Flick, Dorfner, Ekstrom (Eck 71), Wohlfarth