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Both teams are back in domestic action on Sunday. Napoli are at home to Bologna in Serie A, while Ajax host Excelsior in Eredivisie.
Napoli secure their place in the last 16 of the Champions League courtesy of their fourth win in a row in Group A, defeating Ajax 4-2 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The home side took command of the game in the first half through excellent goals from Hirving Lozano and Gianluca Raspadori. Davy Klaassen brought Ajax back into the contest, but a penalty from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia appeared to settle the result. However, the Dutch outfit won a spot-kick of their own that Steven Bergwijn converted to set up a tense finale. Victor Osimhen took the drama out of the equation to secure the three points for the Italian side.
90' + 5' FULL-TIME: NAPOLI 4-2 AJAX
M. Politano
Yellow Card
90' + 2' Politano blocks a pass with his hand and is booked for handball.
V. Osimhen
Yellow Card
90' + 1' Osimhen is booked for his celebration.
V. Osimhen
Goal
89' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! OSIMHEN GETS HIS GOAL!!!!! 4-2 NAPOLI!!!!! Osimhen gets on the scoresheet as he robs Blind and slots the ball into an empty net. The forward applies pressure on the Ajax defender at the back and capitalises on his mistake. Pasveer is out of position and can only watch as Osimhen rolls the ball home.
G. Gaetano
P. Zieliński
89' Zielinski makes way for the home side and is replaced by Gaetano.
88' Grillitsch whips the resulting free-kick towards the back post, but Di Lorenzo heads it away from Klaassen.
Juan Jesus
Yellow Card
87' Jesus brings down Conceicao with a loose challenge and goes into the book.
85' OSIMHEN HAS TO SCORE! The striker somehow turns the ball over from six yards. Di Lorenzo whips a dangerous low cross towards the near post that Osimhen attack. He tries to steer it home, but can only send his effort over the top.
L. Ocampos
S. Bergwijn
84' Bergwijn's last action in the game is to score from the penalty spot. Ocampos replaces the winger.
Francisco Conceição
S. Berghuis
84' Conceicao enters the action to replace Berghuis for the closing stages.
S. Bergwijn
Penalty Goal
83' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! BERGWIJN GIVES AJAX HOPE!!!!! 3-2!!!!! The visitors are back in the game again as Bergwijn converts from the spot. He goes high with his strike, dispatching his right-footed attempt past Meret. Game on.
81' PENALTY TO AJAX! Brobbey is hauled down to the ground by Jesus in the Napoli box and the referee points to the spot.
79' Osimhen has the ball in the net again, but he sees his effort ruled out for offside. It's closer than his first attempt, but he is a step ahead of Bassey as Ndombele threads a pass behind the line.
78' Zielinski works the ball to Di Lorenzo to strike, but Bassey gets across to deflect his effort wide of the right post.
E. Elmas
K. Kvaratskhelia
77' Kvaratskhelia continues to enhance his reputation with another fine display. The Georgia international is replaced by Elmas for the final 13 minutes.
M. Politano
H. Lozano
77' Spalletti takes the chance to withdraw Lozano to replace him with Politano.
S. Bergwijn
Yellow Card
76' Bergwijn clips Lozano's ankles as he tries to break upfield. He goes into the book.
74' SAVE! Lozano is played over the top and through on goal in the inside-right channel. He shoots low on his right foot, but Pasveer gets down to make a solid stop.
73' Berghuis sends a neat offload into the path of Bassey, who has space to shoot on his right foot. However, he goes with his left and it allows Kvaratskhelia to get back to make a good closing challenge.
71' Kvaratskhelia has been directly involved in 12 goals in all competitions this season (7 goals, 5 assists), the most of any Serie A player.
70' Di Lorenzo sends Lozano down the right flank and he has options in the middle. He looks for Osimhen with his cutback, but Blind diverts it away from the forward.
68' Osimhen has the ball in the back of the net, but the offside flag was raised was long before he finished. The forward moved a fraction too soon from Kvaratskhelia's throughball.
67' Zielinski wastes the resulting free-kick with a poor cross into the box from the left flank as Pasveer scoops up the loose ball.
C. Bassey
Yellow Card
66' Kvaratskhelia was too quick and skilful for Sanchez and now he draws a foul from Bassey. The Ajax defender goes into the book.
B. Brobbey
M. Kudus
65' Brobbey replaces Kudus in the final third for the visitors.
Y. Baas
J. Sánchez
65' Sanchez is withdrawn from the Ajax backline as Baas replaces the defender.
F. Grillitsch
K. Taylor
64' Taylor is struggling with an injury and is replaced by Grillitsch in the Ajax midfield.
K. Kvaratskhelia
Penalty Goal
62' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!! KHARATSKHELIA CONVERTS!!!!! 3-1 NAPOLI!!!!!! The Italian outfit regain their two-goal cushion as Kvaratskhelia holds his composure from 12 yards. He hammers his effort high into the top-left corner away from Pasveer's despairing dive. A fine strike.
J. Timber
Yellow Card
61' Timber is booked for his handball that results in the Napoli penalty.
60' VAR! PENALTY TO NAPOLI! The home side are awarded a penalty as the ball struck the left hand of Timber to prevent it travelling towards goal. It is harsh, but the referee confirms the decision after a VAR check.
59' PENALTY APPEAL! The home side appeal for a spot-kick as Ndombele sees a volley charged down by Timber. It strikes him on the arm, but he was inches away from the midfielder.
58' Olivera has to be alert at the back post to head behind Bergwijn's cross with Klaassen lurking behind him.
57' CHANCE! Di Lorenzo angles a cross into the box from the right flank for Osimhen to attack. He climbs and directs a header at goal that travels comfortably wide of the target.
56' OFFSIDE! Lozano looks to thread the needle to send Osimhen through on goal. He collects and fires at the target, but sees his effort saved by Pasveer. The offside flag goes up against the forward late.
53' WIDE! Kvaratskhelia combines with Zielinski down the left flank and cuts a low ball back to his team-mate. It evades the Pole, but Ndombele collects and drills an effort at goal. He connects well with his strike, only to send it fractionally wide of the left post.
E. Álvarez
Yellow Card
52' Alvarez lunges and brings down Lobotka on the charge. The midfielder goes into the book.
51' Zielinski turns away from Sanchez down the left flank and angles a cross into the box on his right foot. Timber does well to divert it away from Osimhen.
V. Osimhen
G. Raspadori
50' Raspadori is withdrawn by the home side in the final third for Osimhen.
T. Ndombélé
A. Zambo Anguissa
49' Anguissa makes holding the back of his right leg. Ndombele replaces the midfielder for the hosts.
C. Bassey
Assist
49' Bassey does well down the left flank to steer a dangerous cross into the box for Klaassen to attack and score.
D. Klaassen
Goal
49' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! KLAASSEN GETS ONE BACK!!!!! 2-1!!!! Ajax are back in the game as Klaassen plants a header past Meret. Bassey finds space down the left flank and clips a cross into the middle. Klaassen rises unmarked and powers his header into the bottom-left corner through the hand of the Napoli keeper. Game on.
46' Berghuis angles a cross into the Napoli box towards Kudus from the right flank. Jesus rises above the forward to clear behind for a corner.
46' We're back under way at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Ajax have not played badly, but have been punished in their own box and have lacked a clinical edge in the Napoli box. If Alfred Schreuder's men can get the next goal, it could make life interesting in the second half.
Napoli are well on their way to securing their place in the knockout stage of the Champions League as they hold a 2-0 lead over Ajax at the break. Hirving Lozano put the hosts ahead with a fine header following a super team move to cut open the Dutch outfit at the back. Gianluca Raspadori added a second with a left-footed blast to hand Napoli a control after Ajax should have responded through Mohamed Kudus. Napoli are 45 minutes away from a fourth win on the bounce in the competition and a place in the last 16.
45' + 2' HALF-TIME: NAPOLI 2-0 AJAX
45' + 2' Sanchez makes a vital challenge on Kvaratskhelia just before the break to stop the winger breaking through on goal. He had to time that tackle to perfection.
45' There will be two minutes of added time.
43' Bergwijn is displaying drive for the visitors, but Ajax are lacking a clinical edge with their final ball. Both Bergwijn and Kudus see their efforts from the edge of the box charged down with ease by the hosts.
41' Lozano is played into space in the inside-right channel, but he hacks at his strike and pulls it across the face of goal.
40' Kudus tries to force his way through blue shirts on the edge of the Napoli box. Lobotka senses the danger and gets back to win possession with a good challenge.
38' Napoli have control of the game at the moment. Ajax have lost attacking impetus and are looking fairly suspect at the back, especially on their right flank.
36' Kvaratskhelia torments Sanchez once more with quick feet down the left flank. He clips a cross to the back post towards Lozano, but Bassey makes a vital clearance ahead of the forward.
J. Sánchez
Yellow Card
33' Sanchez hauls Kvaratskhelia to the ground after being turned inside and out by the winger. He goes into the book.
31' Timber looks to thread a ball behind the Napoli defence for Kudus' run, but the forward moves too early and is caught offside.
29' Lozano takes a knock from a challenge from Bassey. The Mexico international requires treatment before the game can resume.
28' Taylor bundles his way into the Napoli box after combining with Klaassen. He looks to shoot, but loses his balance at the key moment and fires his strike into the side-netting.
K. Taylor
Yellow Card
27' Taylor catches Lobotka on the boot with a late challenge and goes into the book.
24' BLOCK! Di Lorenzo gives the ball away to Kudus on the edge of the Napoli box and he feeds Berghuis to line up a strike. Jesus gets across to deflect the effort wide of the left post.
23' Berghuis works the ball back to Blind to send into the box from the left flank. Alvarez rises in the box, only to glance his header wide of the target.
21' Bergwijn attempts to drive at the Napoli defence with a probing run into the box. Jesus has to time his tackle to perfection to halt the Ajax forward.
20' Ajax have not played badly in the opening 20 minutes, but have paid the price for their lack of clinical edge. Napoli have been potent in the final third.
18' Raspadori has contributed to goals in his last three games in the Champions League (4 goals, 1 assist).
K. Kvaratskhelia
Assist
16' Kvaratskhelia finds space down the left flank and picks out Raspadori to provide a perfect finish.
G. Raspadori
Goal
16' WHAT A HIT FROM RASPADORI!!!!! 2-0 NAPOLI!!!!!! Spalletti's men extend their lead through a stunner from Raspadori. Kvaratskhelia races down the left flank and feeds the forward on the edge of the box. Raspadori takes a touch before rifling a left-footed strike past Pasveer into the top-left corner. A super effort.
14' CLOSE! Lozano comes inches away from a second. Kvaratskhelia turns his way past Sanchez with ease down the left flank and feeds Zielinski on the edge of the box. He shoots, but sees his effort blocked by Blind. Lozano latches on to the rebound and shoots first-time on the volley. Pasveer is beaten, but the ball travels just over the bar.
13' CHANCE! Kudus has to score! Ajax open up the Napoli defence down the left flank as Bergwijn threads the needle to release Kudus in the box. He turns to shoot on his left foot, only to drag his effort wide of the right post.
12' Taylor looks for a ball over the top from Timber on the half-way line, but the defender overhits it to send it out for a goal-kick.
10' INCHES WIDE! Ajax keep the pressure on and Berghuis curls a strike towards the top-left corner. Meret is beaten and he watches as the ball drifts inches wide of the target. So close to a response from Ajax.
9' SAVE! Bergwijn collects on the left flank and cuts inside to shoot on his right foot. His effort looks to be curling into the bottom-right corner, but Meret dives low to his left to push it away with a brilliant stop.
8' Napoli are a team that are flowing with confidence in the final third. Lozano's goal epitomises how well they are playing in combination in front of goal.
6' Napoli have scored in their last 10 Champions League games.
P. Zieliński
Assist
4' Zielinski clips a sublime ball over the top for Lozano to take out of the air and score with a fine header.
H. Lozano
Goal
4' WHAT A GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NAPOLI SCORE THROUGH A SUPER TEAM MOVE!!!!! The home side pick up from where they left off last week by cutting through Ajax and Lozano finishes with a sublime header. He gathers on the right flank and cuts inside before laying an offload to Zielinski. Lozano continues his run into the box and Zielinski releases him with a sumptuous ball over the top. Lozano takes it out of the air first-time, steering his header away from Pasveer into the top-left corner.
3' The hosts probe down the left flank through Kvaratskhelia, who lifts a cross into the box. Timber is on the spot for the visitors to head it clear of danger.
1' We're under way in this Champions League clash.
Ajax’s 6-1 defeat in the reverse fixture against Napoli last week was their biggest ever defeat in any European competition.
Ajax have made two changes to their side from their win over Volendam. Sanchez and Klaassen come into the fold to replace Devyne Rensch, who misses out for the Dutch outfit due to injury, and the suspended Dusan Tadic.
Napoli have made four changes to their side from their win over Cremonese on Sunday. Jesus and Olivera come into the back four in place of Amir Rrahmani and Rui, with the latter dropping to the bench. Zielinski and Lozano come back into the starting line-up as Politano and Ndombele make way tonight.
AJAX SUBS: Maarten Stekelenburg, Owen Wijndal, Brian Brobbey, Lucas Ocampos, Jay Gorter, Lorenzo Lucca, Florian Grillitsch, Youri Baas, Youri Regeer, Lisandro Magallan, Francisco Conceicao.
AJAX (4-3-3): Remko Pasveer; Jorge Sanchez, Jurrien Timber, Calvin Bassey, Daley Blind; Davy Klaassen, Edson Alvarez, Kenneth Taylor; Mohammed Kudus, Steven Berghuis, Steven Bergwijn.
NAPOLI SUBS: Mario Rui, Eljif Elmas, Victor Osimhen, Hubert Dawid Idasiak, Giovanni Simeone, Matteo Politano, Alessio Zerbin, Salvatore Sirigu, Leo Ostigard, Alessandro Zanoli, Gianluca Gaetano, Tanguy Ndombele.
NAPOLI (4-4-2): Alex Meret; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Juan Jesus, Kim Min-Jae, Mathias Olivera; Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Stanislav Lobotka; Hirving Lozano, Piotr Zielinski, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia; Giacomo Raspadori.
Ajax have to pick themselves after their heavy defeat last week on home soil. Napoli were clinical in the final third to punish Alfred Schreuder's men, leaving them with an uphill challenge to remain in the battle to reach the knockout stage. The Dutch outfit did end a four-match run in all competitions against Volendam, although it was a nervy time for them after allowing the hosts to close within a goal before Davy Klaassen secured the 4-2 win. Ajax need a special performance tonight.
Napoli have enjoyed a perfect start to their Champions League campaign and can secure their place in the knockout phase with a point tonight. Luciano Spalletti's men have won all three of their matches by dominant margins, including a 6-1 hammering of Ajax last week. The Azzurri continued their outstanding form in Serie A at the weekend to defeat Cremonese 4-1 on the road. Napoli are firing on all cylinders and will be eyeing the three points.
Hello and welcome to the live commentary of the Champions League clash between Napoli and Ajax at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
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