Naples: Napoli solidified their position in the Champions League knockout stages with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Braga at home. The Italian club concluded their Group C campaign in second place with 10 points, eight points behind group leaders Real Madrid.
The match began with Napoli establishing their dominance early. Matteo Politano’s ninth-minute cross led to the opening goal, unfortunately turned into his own net by Braga’s Serdar Saatci. This own goal set the tone for the rest of the match, as Napoli continued to press forward.
Napoli’s qualification was all but assured in the 33rd minute when Victor Osimhen skillfully back-heeled a cross from Natan, managing to push the loose ball into the net. This strike by Osimhen, his first in the Champions League this season, came after the Nigerian international recently won the African Footballer of the Year award.
Braga, despite needing a near-miraculous comeback, started the match energetically. Rodrigo Zalazar and Bruma created early opportunities, but their efforts did not translate into goals. Bruma’s missed shot in the 44th minute, straight at Napoli’s keeper Alex Meret, summed up their night – close, yet not enough.
Napoli, who could afford a narrow loss but never looked in danger of even that, benefitted from Meret’s crucial saves, including a notable effort tipping André Horta’s shot over the bar. Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo praised the team’s defensive resilience and Meret’s performance.
With the result secured, Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri, who took over from Rudi Garcia in November, was able to rest key players like Osimhen and Politano in the second half. Mazzarri emphasized the importance of defensive solidity and maintaining the team’s balance as they aim to replicate last season’s success, where they reached the Champions League quarter-finals.
As Braga clung to third place, earning a spot in the Europa League, Napoli’s victory marks a return to form after a series of recent defeats. Looking ahead, Napoli, the reigning Serie A champions, will be keen to build on this momentum in the knockout stages, aiming to surpass last year’s quarter-final exit against AC Milan.
