Napoli booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League thanks to a comical own goal and unorthodox Victor Osimhen finish to beat SC Braga.
The Partenopei won 2-1 in Portugal, so could even afford to lose by one clear goal and still qualify for the Round of 16 behind Real Madrid, but were coming off three consecutive defeats under new coach Walter Mazzarri. Victor Osimhen could start despite being in Morocco last night to pick up his African Player of the Year Award and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia shook off flu symptoms, but Mario Rui, Mathias Olivera and Jens Cajuste were still injured. Braga missed Alvaro Djaló and suspended Sikou Niakate.
It was an aggressive start from the visitors, as Pizzi’s shot was charged down by Juan Jesus and Bruma drilled the follow-up wide.
However, just like the meeting in Portugal, Braga put through their own net. Matteo Politano got down the right and tried to pull back low for Osimhen, but instead Serdar Saatci rather clumsily managed to deflect the ball onto the underside of the bar and over the line.
Alex Meret was forced into a sensational flying one-handed save to push the Ricardo Horta screamer over the bar on 28 minutes.
The Braga goalkeeper was also tested at the near post by Piotr Zielinski after turning Jose Fonte on a Politano through ball.
Napoli added a second when Natan, who is a central defender filling in at left-back, surged down the left past Fonte and rolled across, where Osimhen’s attempted back-heel flick ended up ricocheting into the net off his other foot.
Bruma’s snapshot was straight at Meret, but news came through that Union Berlin were leading Real Madrid at half-time and therefore Braga were in last place.
Matheus had to acrobatically palm Politano’s left-foot curler over the bar from outside the area, while Meret was right behind the Ricardo Horta snapshot.
Osimhen stung the goalkeeper’s gloves and Giovanni Di Lorenzo threw himself in the path of a Bruma effort.
Ricardo Horta continued to push and his scorcher thumped the base of the upright 11 minutes from time.
As Real Madrid came back to beat Union Berlin 3-2, Braga finish third and will be in the Europa League play-offs.
Napoli 2-0 Braga
Serdar Saatci og 9 (N), Osimhen 33 (N)
Player statistic
| Serdar Saatci |  |
9' | ||
| 19' |  |
Simon Banza | ||
| Victor Osimhen (Assist: Natan) |
 |
33' |
| 83' | |
Joe Mendes |
Match statistic
