Giacomo Raspadori tapped in after an inspired run by Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, as Napoli take the points from Union Berlin, but it was a far from impressive performance.
The Partenopei got back on track at the weekend beating Verona, but were playing catch-up in Europe after defeat to Real Madrid. Victor Osimhen and Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa were still out of action. Union Berlin lost eight matches in a row going into this fixture, despite the presence of ex-Serie A stars Leonardo Bonucci (who was benched) and Robin Gosens. Laurenz Dehl, Josip Juranovic, Jerome Roussillon and Andras Schafer were out of action.
It was a strong start from the hosts, who had the ball in the net on 25 minutes, but David Fofana was offside in the build-up.
Rani Khedira made a crucial block when Kvicha Kvaratskhelia dribbled into the box and was about to shoot, while Brenden Aaronson ballooned over the bar from 12 yards.
Fofana did avoid the offside trap down the left and forced Alex Meret to fingertip the finish onto the side-netting, while Khedira’s long-range effort flashed wide.
Eljif Elmas replaced Jens Cajuste at the break, but Fofana scuffed wide after Stanislav Lobotka gave it away cheaply and Kvaratskhelia’s shot was charged down after squirming between two defenders.
The deadlock was only going to be broken by a moment of magic from Kvaratskhelia, who dribbled past Christopher Trimmel to pull back from the left by-line and Raspadori was ready to tap in from six yards.
Union Berlin tried to fight back, a Robin Knoche header from a free kick grazing a coat of paint off the far post, then Meret had to get down to beat away a dangerous Becker cross in stoppages.
Union Berlin 0-1 Napoli
Raspadori 65 (N)
Player statistic
| Christopher Trimmel |  |
10' | ||
| 23' | |
Amir Rrahmani |
| Robin Gosens | |
51' | ||
| Janik Haberer | |
53' | ||
| 65' |  |
Giacomo Raspadori (Assist: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia) |
Match statistic
