Matteo Politano, Giacomo Raspadori and Tanguy Ndombele gave Napoli a big victory away to 10-man Rangers, despite Piotr Zielinski seeing his penalty saved twice, sending them three points clear in this group.
This game was postponed by 24 hours as police were over-stretched by preparations for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. Liverpool beat Ajax 2-1 last night, so a win here would send the Partenopei three points clear at the top of the group.
Victor Osimhen, Hirving Lozano and Diego Demme were injured, so Giovanni Simeone stepped in rather than Giacomo Raspadori. Rangers were missing Jon McLaughlin, so brought back 40-year-old goalkeeper Allan McGregor, with Tom Lawrence, Ben Davies, John Souttar, Filip Helander, Kemar Roofe and Ianis Hagi also out of action.
It was an aggressive start from both sides, the Alfredo Morelos header glancing wide and Piotr Zielinski smashing a shot onto the upright.
Alex Meret flew to palm a long-range Scott Arfield scorcher out from the top corner, while McGregor had to sprint off his line and use his knee to turn Simeone’s finish wide after a smart Zielinski through ball.
Morelos tested Meret again, while Kvaratskhelia’s curler skimmed the far post and Arfield scuffed horribly from a promising position.
Kvaratskhelia stung McGregor’s gloves at the near post, while Connor Goldson’s looping header and a Matteo Politano half-volley flashed wide.
The game turned on 55 minutes when James Sands brought down Simeone in the box for a penalty, which was also his second yellow card in a matter of moments. Zielinski saw his penalty parried by 40-year-old McGregor and Politano turned in the rebound, but VAR showed encroachment from multiple players, so it had to be retaken. Zielinski stepped up again and once more McGregor made the save.
Against 10 men at Ibrox, Napoli poured forward and received another penalty when Kvaratskhelia’s shot was charged down by a raised Barisic arm. This time Politano decided to take and drilled it low just under McGregor’s glove.
McGregor made another fine save on Zielinski’s attempt from the edge of the box, but Raspadori came off the bench to seal it, completing a smart give-and-go with Mathias Olivera to beat McGregor at the near post.
Substitute Tanguy Ndombele added a third in stoppages, set up brilliantly by Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa’s no-look pass.
The referee gave Rangers a penalty too, but had to change his mind after a VAR on-field review, as it clearly hit Amir Rrahmani on the stomach and not the hand.
Rangers 0-3 Napoli
Politano pen 68 (N), Raspadori 85 (N), Ndombele 91 (N)
Sent off: Sands 56 (R)
Saved penalty: Zielinski 59 (N)
Congratulations to Inter, Milan and Napoli in CL for victories. Shame on Allegri and the club for losing AGAIN. I hope the top clubs build new stadiums to be able to better compete in Europe.
Great result at a tough place to get one. Napoli is a fine position now to progress.
Well done Napoli. Excellent start to the CL