Free-scoring Napoli moved into the knockout stages of the Champions League with an entertaining win over Ajax.
They raced into a two-goal lead as Hirving Lozano sent a looping header into the far corner and Giacomo Raspadori thumped a left-footed drive into the roof of the net.
Ex-Everton man Davy Klaasen’s header reduced Ajax’s arrears after the break, before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s penalty, harshly awarded for handball against Jurrien Timber after a Video Assistant Referee review, extended Napoli’s lead back to two goals.
The visitors were then given a late penalty when Juan Jesus was adjudged to have fouled Brian Brobbey, with former Tottenham forward Steven Bergwijn converting to cause a nervy finale.
However, those nerves were settled when Victor Osimhen harried Daley Blind into a mistake and tapped into the empty net for his first Champions League goal of the season.
The result leaves Napoli, who have now scored 17 goals in their four group games, in pole position to top group A, at the expense of Liverpool.
They can be overtaken by Jurgen Klopp’s side, who must win their remaining games by large margins to have any chance of topping the group.
Line-ups
Napoli
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Meret
- 22Di Lorenzo
- 3Kim
- 5Nunes JesusBooked at 87mins
- 17Olivera
- 99Zambo AnguissaSubstituted forNdombéléat 49′minutes
- 68Lobotka
- 20ZielinskiSubstituted forGaetanoat 89′minutes
- 11LozanoSubstituted forPolitanoat 77′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 81RaspadoriSubstituted forOsimhenat 50′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 77KvaratskheliaSubstituted forElmasat 77′minutes
Substitutes
- 6Mário Rui
- 7Elmas
- 9Osimhen
- 16Idasiak
- 18Simeone
- 21Politano
- 23Zerbin
- 30Sirigu
- 55Östigard
- 59Zanoli
- 70Gaetano
- 91Ndombélé
Ajax
Formation 4-3-3
- 22Pasveer
- 19SánchezBooked at 33minsSubstituted forBaasat 65′minutes
- 2TimberBooked at 61mins
- 17Blind
- 3BasseyBooked at 66mins
- 6Klaassen
- 4ÁlvarezBooked at 52mins
- 8TaylorBooked at 27minsSubstituted forGrillitschat 65′minutes
- 23BerghuisSubstituted forFernandes da Conceiçãoat 84′minutes
- 20KudusSubstituted forBrobbeyat 65′minutes
- 7BergwijnBooked at 76minsSubstituted forOcamposat 84′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Stekelenburg
- 5Wijndal
- 9Brobbey
- 11Ocampos
- 16Gorter
- 18Lucca
- 21Grillitsch
- 25Baas
- 26Regeer
- 29Magallán
- 35Fernandes da Conceição
- Referee:
- Felix Zwayer
- Attendance:
- 52,229
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Napoli 4, Ajax 2.
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Second Half ends, Napoli 4, Ajax 2.
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Francisco Conceição (Ajax) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Gianluca Gaetano (Napoli).
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Attempt blocked. Daley Blind (Ajax) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Florian Grillitsch.
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Lucas Ocampos (Ajax) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli).
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Matteo Politano (Napoli) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.
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Hand ball by Matteo Politano (Napoli).
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Victor Osimhen (Napoli) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
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Goal! Napoli 4, Ajax 2. Victor Osimhen (Napoli) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
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Substitution, Napoli. Gianluca Gaetano replaces Piotr Zielinski.
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Juan Jesus (Napoli) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Francisco Conceição (Ajax) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Juan Jesus (Napoli).
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Foul by Brian Brobbey (Ajax).
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Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Victor Osimhen (Napoli) right footed shot from very close range is too high. Assisted by Giovanni Di Lorenzo with a cross.
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Substitution, Ajax. Francisco Conceição replaces Steven Berghuis.
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Substitution, Ajax. Lucas Ocampos replaces Steven Bergwijn.
