Juventus unlocks in the second half with Pafos, Napoli’s collapse with Benfica

At the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, Benfica inflicted a crushing 2-0 defeat on Napoli in the Champions League match on the sixth day, bringing them within one point of the partenopei, who are by the skin of their teeth in the qualification zone for the first knockout round. The hosts have two incredible chances in the first phase of the first half, then on 20′ they take the lead: Dahl crosses from the left into the center of the box, McTominay hits Ivanovic when he tries to head it away, the ball ends up where Rios is, who anticipates Milikovic-Savic and toe-takes it cold. On 28′ first chance for the Parthenopeans with Di Lorenzo who from Dahl’s cross failed to frame the goal with his header. At the end of the first half, opportunity also for Otamendi who sends high.

Martino Davidi

In the fourth minute of the second half, Benfica doubled the score: Ivanovic ran up the right and funneled the insertion of Rios, who from the back sent a low cross into the middle for Barreiro, who scored a sensational goal with a backheel that surprised Milinkovic-Savic. Napoli was shocked by the double disadvantage and even threatened to take the third goal from Pavlidis on two occasions, and in the second it was Milinkovic-Savic who avoided a greater liability by repelling a lob from the Greek striker. The Italian champions have seven minutes of recovery time at their disposal, but there&#8217s nothing for them to do.

Second consecutive victory instead for Luciano Spalletti’s Luventus, which after the one in Norway against Bodo Glimt also beat Pafos at the Stadium 2-0. On 7′ a miraculous save by Di Gregorio, the goalkeeper repelled a deflection by Cambiaso foiling his fortuitous own goal. After the Bianconeri also gained territorial supremacy with a couple of chances by Yildiz and Koopmeiners, on 31′ Pafos went close to scoring with Anderseon Silva hitting the post. After two more chances for the Cypriots, on 42′ David on the development of a corner and Kelly’s bank sends wide from two steps.

In the resumption, Spalletti brought in Francisco Conceicao for Zhegrova and the Portuguese was immediately dangerous at 51′ a few minutes after a chance for Koopmeiners, and then again at 59′. Trying and trying again, Juve finally took the lead at 67′; Cambiaso angling McKennie into the opponent’s penalty area, a follow through stop and a right-footed shot that slipped under the’cross of the posts. Having unblocked a difficult game, six minutes later came the doubling: Conceicao for Yildiz, assist for David who on one-on-one with Micheal puts in the net. The guests’ reaction is all in a shot by Correia on which Di Gregorio guards well.