Sparta Prague hit the crossbar twice, but Napoli scraped a 0-0 draw to qualify for the Europa League knockouts.
The Partenopei need a win from their last game to top the group, which is at home to bottom team Slovan Bratislava, a side that lost all five matches so far.
Sparta Prague hit the crossbar twice, but Napoli scraped a 0-0 draw to qualify for the Europa League knockouts.
The Partenopei need a win from their last game to top the group, which is at home to bottom team Slovan Bratislava, a side that lost all five matches so far.
These two teams were both tied at the top of their Europa League group on nine points, followed by Young Boys on six. Missing Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne, Michu and Juan Camilo Zuniga, Rafa Benitez picked almost a full strength XI, moving Jorginho to a more advanced role and changing the full-backs after a 3-3 draw with Cagliari on Sunday. Sparta had won all five of their European home fixtures this season, including the preliminary rounds.
Early on David Lafata pounced on an error to sting Rafael’s gloves, but they were truly shaken on 17 minutes. Josef Husbauer’s half-volley from the edge of the box smacked against the crossbar and fell into Lafata’s path, but Rafael somehow got back up to flap the follow-up header off the line from seven yards.
Krejci’s effort looped over the goalkeeper, but Raul Albiol was back to clear practically off the line.
The second half was more even, but Napoli were still toothless, as Albiol knocked on a corner and Lafata prevented Higuain from redirecting it.
Sparta Prague rattled the frame of the goal again on 76 minutes, as Marek Matejovsky’s strike was deflected off Giandomenico Mesto to loop up on to the bar with the aid of a Rafael fingertip.
Remarkably, centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly had Napoli’s best chance, drilling well wide after combining with Marek Hamsik. Moments later Hamsik nodded a corner inches over the bar from point-blank range, then the Slovak hit the side-netting in stoppages.
Sparta Prague 0-0 Napoli
Sparta Prague: Stech; Kaderabek, Brabec, Holek, Nhamoinesu; Husbauer (Prikryl 72), Mareček, Matejovsky (Vacek 90); Dočkal, Lafata, Krejci
Napoli: Rafael; Mesto, Albiol, Koulibaly, Britos; Gargano, David Lopez; Callejon, Jorginho (Ghoulam 77), Hamsik; Higuain (Duvan Zapata 68)
Ref: Marriner (ENG)