McTominay header sinks Qarabag, Napoli back to winning ways in Champions | OneFootball

After the lackluster draw with Eintracht Frankfurt and the heavy setback against PSV Eindhoven, Napoli was called upon for an immediate response in the Champions League as well.

It was Scott's head. McTominay downs Qarabag, Napoli returns to winning in the Champions

The four group stage matches had given the Azzurri just 4 points, while the surprising Qarabag was flying at 7. The obligation, therefore, was to restart with the same intensity shown in Serie A in the victory against Atalanta.

Antonio Conte confirmed the 3-5-2, a system that restored balance, order, and renewed confidence to a group that seemed to have lost convictions and continuity. A clear tactical choice: to provide stability to the defensive phase to consistently fuel the offensive one and seriously compete for European qualification again.

The weight of memory: Maradona Day as an emotional engine

November 25 is not just any anniversary for Napoli. It is a date etched in collective memory: the day in 2020 when the football world lost Diego Armando Maradona. An absence that, despite the passage of time, continues to be felt as a living, almost tangible presence.

The atmosphere at the stadium was that of great occasions. Not just a simple commemoration, but a moment of unity between the team, the city, and the fans. A way to remember how Maradona's legacy is still today an identity glue, an emotional call that transcends the field.

It's not just the player we remember. It's the very idea of what football can be when loved without measure.

Napoli–Qarabag 2-0: the turning point match

Playing on the day of Maradona's remembrance means taking on a symbolic responsibility. And Napoli did not fail.

The first half, far from simple, showed an organized and determined Qarabag. The Azeris defended with order, conceding only one real chance to the Azzurri: a splendid overhead kick by Neres, neutralized by goalkeeper Kochalski, the main protagonist of the first 45 minutes.

The second half, however, completely changed the face of the match. Napoli raised the pace, attacked the spaces, and imposed an overwhelming technical and physical superiority. Taking center stage was Scott McTominay. The former United player unlocked the match with a close-range header, and Jankovic (72') deflected into his own goal another shot from the Scotsman.

In between, a missed penalty by Hojlund (saved by Kochalski) and a woodwork hit by Neres at 1-0. Two episodes that could have slowed the team's growth but instead fueled the Azzurri's intensity.

The final 2-0 is the picture of a clear, concrete superiority, built on rediscovered qualities and an identity that seemed lost just a week ago.

Football, as we know, lives on emotional swings, but what matters is the technical signal. And the signal has arrived: two consecutive victories, evident mental growth, and a group that finally seems united around their coach's ideas.

Napoli is now fully in the race for the Champions League playoffs and has also put its Serie A standings back in order. Napoli is back. And it did so on the night when Diego, once again, seemed to be sitting in the stands accompanying his stadium, his people, his team.

NAPOLI-QARABAG 2-0

Napoli (3-4-3): Milinkovic-Savic 6.5; Beukema 6 (19' st Politano 6), Rrahmani 6, Buongiorno 6.5 (44' st Juan Jesus NG); Di Lorenzo 6.5, Lobotka 6.5, McTominay 7.5, Olivera 6.5; Neres 7.5 (44' st Vergara NG), Hojlund 5.5 (30' st Lucca 5.5), Lang 6.5 (30' st Elmas 6). Coach: Conte 6.5

Qarabag (4-2-3-1): Kochalski 8; Silva 6 (30' st Dani Bolt 6), Mustafazade 6, Medina 6 (15' st S. Mmaee 5.5), Jafarguliyev 5.5 (30' st T. Bayramov 6); Pedro Bicalho 5.5, Jankovic 5.5; Leandro Andrade 6 (15' st Kashchuk 6), Zoubir 5.5, Addai 6.5; Duran 5.5 (30' st Akhundzade 5.5). Coach: Gurbanov 6

Referee: Marciniak 6 Scorers: 20' st McTominay (N), 27' st own goal Jankovic (Q).

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.