Dries Mertens assisted Jose Callejon and scored the other as Napoli conquered Benfica 2-1 to win the Champions League group.
See how the evening unfolded on the Liveblog.
Dries Mertens assisted Jose Callejon and scored the other as Napoli conquered Benfica 2-1 to win the Champions League group.
See how the evening unfolded on the Liveblog.
The Partenopei needed at least a point to be sure of qualification in this final Champions League group game against the joint leaders, both sitting one point above Besiktas, as they had already beaten Benfica 4-2 at the San Paolo. Things had gone downhill fast since Arkadiusz Milik’s injury, picking up just two points from the last three European games.
These two sides knew that they would both qualify if Besiktas lost away to Dynamo Kiev and news filtered through that not only were the Turkish giants down to 10 men after 32 minutes, but they were also 4-0 down at half-time.
Manolo Gabbiadini was given the starting spot, while the hosts missed Alex Grimaldo, Eliseu, Andre Horta and Jonas, so Andre Almeida was used as a makeshift left-back. Benfica had an excellent home record, winning the last five without even conceding at the Da Luz.
Raul Jimenez was a surprise starter in attack and turned a free header over the bar. Marek Hamsik’s snapshot was beaten away by Ederson, but when Gabbiadini nodded in the rebound, he was offside.
Moments later a double Hamsik and Faouzi Ghoulam error gifted the chance to Benfica, Goncalo Guedes prodding it inches wide of the far post.
Pepe Reina had to parry a Raul Jimenez angled drive at the near stick and Andre Almeida intercepted a Jose Callejon roll across for Gabbiadini.
Nelson Semedo drilled off target and Callejon’s scuffed shot was saved at the near bottom corner after great work from Ghoulam.
On 35 minutes Gabbiadini ran on to a through ball, but Ederson sprinted off his line to narrow the angle and block with his legs.
It was goalless at the break, but the news filtering in from Kiev means as things stood, both Benfica and Napoli were qualified with the Partenopei top thanks to their superior head-to-head record.
After the restart Gabbiadini scuffed a weak finish from a promising position and Callejon turned his cushioned volley wide from an inspired Insigne assist.
Kalidou Koulibaly charged down a shot on the edge of the box from Rafa Silva, but Napoli took the lead with a well-worked goal.
Callejon sprung the offside trap on a Dries Mertens flick and as the goalkeeper came rushing forward, delicately chipped him into an empty net. It was his first Champions League goal of the season and the Mertens assist arrived within three minutes of coming off the bench.
The Spaniard almost got another, sliding in at the back post on an Insigne cross, while Pizzi’s free kick flashed just wide.
Mertens really did allow Napoli to step up a gear and scored a wonderful second goal, his jinking run from the edge of the box past a tackle to slop the right-foot finish into the near bottom corner. It means the Belgian contributed to six of Napoli’s last eight Champions League goals, scoring four and assisting two.
It still wasn’t over, as Raul Albiol was caught napping in the final third and allowed Raul Jimenez a clear run at goal to pull one back for Benfica.
Napoli win their Champions League group for the first time and would've done so even without the Besiktas capitulation to Dynamo Kiev, which was eventually 6-0 and down to nine men.
Benfica 1-2 Napoli
Callejon 60 (N), Mertens 79 (N), Raul Jimenez 87 (B)
Benfica: Ederson; Nelson Semedo, Luisao, Lindelof, Andre Almeida; Salvio (Mitroglu 80), Fejsa, Pizzi, Cervi (Carrillo 68); Goncalo Guedes (Rafa Silva 57), Raul Jimenez
Napoli: Reina; Hysaj, Koulibaly, Albiol, Ghoulam; Allan, Diawara, Hamsik (Zielinski 72); Callejon, Gabbiadini (Mertens 57), Insigne (Rog 80)
Ref: Lahoz (ESP)