Youth League: Napoli Primavera out after 3-0 loss to Benfica | OneFootball

Napoli Primavera’s journey in the 2025/26 Youth League ends with a defeat. On the pitch of the Benfica Campus in Seixal, Portugal, coach Rocco’s young Azzurri fell 3-0 to their Portuguese peers, prematurely ending their European adventure.

Youth League, Napoli Primavera falls 3-0 to Benfica and bids farewell to the competition

The match was unlocked in the 28th minute with a goal from Francisco Silva, nephew of Luisao, a legendary Benfica figure and former protagonist of iconic clashes against Napoli in the UEFA Cup. In the following minutes, the hosts consolidated their lead with goals from Oliveira and Duarte Soares, effectively sealing the match.

“For about 70 minutes we stayed in the game against one of the strongest teams in Europe, capable of scoring 26 goals in six matches,” commented coach Rocco, highlighting the difficulty of facing such a high-level opponent.

Napoli Primavera in a results crisis

With only six points earned in six matches, the young Azzurri finish the group stage with a modest record: just one victory, achieved in the fifth round, and five defeats. The Youth League campaign confirms the difficulties faced by Napoli U19 when up against the continent’s best-equipped teams, forcing the club to reflect on strategies and prospects for future seasons.

“It was a complex experience, but useful for the boys’ growth. The level of the Youth League requires preparation, organization, and consistency,” added Rocco.

Lineups and formation

Benfica (4-3-3): Diogo Ferreira; Banjaqui Oliveira, Rui Silva, Semedo; Gil Never, Quintas Moreira; Fernandes, Francisco Silva, Coletta. Substitutes: Lopes, Duarte Soares, Ricardo Neto, Tomás Soares, Miguel Figueiredo, Umeh, Stevan Manuel, Anisio Cabral, João Afonsa.

Napoli (3-5-2): Spinelli; De Chiara, Gambardella, Garofalo; Olivieri, Cimmaruta, Prisco, Genovese, Smeraldi; Anic, Baridò. Substitutes: Pugliese, De Martino, Zappettini, Palomba, Marotta Chiummariello, Esposito, Iovine.

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