Napoli take on Real Sociedad in the final game of Group F in the Europa League, which sees Napoli needing to avoid defeat to progress into the knockout stages.
Real Sociedad sit two points behind Napoli along with AZ Alkmaar and will need to match or better the latter’s result to ensure their own progress to the knockout rounds.
Both sides come off the back of draws with Napoli drawing 1-1 with AZ and Sociedad drawing 2-2 with Rijeka. In the previous meeting, Napoli snatched a 1-0 win in Spain as Matteo Politano scored the only goal of the game.
The two teams come into tonight’s game knowing that AZ could spoil either of their Europa League campaigns.
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KICK OFF
0′ We are under way at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona
2′ CHANCE
Early pressure from Real Sociedad and Willian Jose has a close range effort saved comfortably by Ospina.
4′ Guevara has an effort from outside the box for Sociedad but the ball flies high and over.
10′ Nothing between the two sides in these first 10 minutes , a very stale affair so far.
13′ CHANCE
Januzaj bursts down the right hand side and lays the ball across to prtu who touches it to Willian Jose on the edge of the box and he sees his fierce effort saved well by Ospina.
15′ Gattuso is visibly unhappy with his sides opening quarter of an hour as Napoli are looking rather shaky at the back.
19′ WHAT A CHANCE
What a chance for Sociedad, the ball is slid across the face of goal and Portu has the goal gaping but somehow he knocks the ball wide of the post, WHAT A MISS!
24′ Let off for Sociedad as Mertens races through and Zubeldia commits a poor challenge but the ref only signals for a corner.
26′ CHANCE
The ball falls for Bakayoko at the back post but he sweeps the ball into the side netting.
32′ Mikel Merino has lucrative effort from distance and the ball flies over the bar by some distance.
34′ WHAT A GOAL!
A Napoli corner is cleared only as far as Zielinski, who controls the ball on his chest and smashes the ball on the half volley into the top left corner. Napoli 1-0 Real Sociedad
39′ Bakayoko is slid through one on one with Remiro and the goalkeeper comes out on top, collecting the ball.
44′ It’s been a scrappy affair since the goal with neither team threatening the others goal.
HALF TIME
The early Real Sociedad threat was cancelled out by a fantastic strike from Zielinski in 34th minute which was the beginning of a scrappy affair towards the end of the half. Sociedad have it all to do as AZ Alkmaar are drawing 0-0 with Rijeka at half time, Sociedad are out of the competition as it stands.
SECOND HALF
46′ CHANCE
A free kick from Januzaj is met by the head of Merino but Ospina palms it away.
48′ Great reactions from Marco Rui who manages to poke the ball away from the feet of Januzaj who was about to strike the ball towards goal, the ball goes out for a Sociedad corner.
53′ CHANCE
Big chance for Sociedad as Portu speeds down the left and cuts the ball back to Merino who takes a touch and blasts a shot just wide of the post.
54′ Big news in the other game in the group as Rijeka take the lead against AZ, as it stands Sociedad are going through with Napoli.
56′ SUB
First change of the night as Portu is replaced by Barrenetxea
59′ CHANCE
Lozano bursts through the Sociedad defence with ease but slides the ball just past the post.
60′ More news from the other game, AZ have equalised against Rijeka and will go through with Napoli as it stands.
64′ CHANCE
A gorgeous ball from Mertens and Lozano meets it under pressure but its scrambled away by the Sociedad defence.
67′ Strong claims for a penalty as Merino goes down in the box but the ref waves the appeals away.
68′ A ball over the top from Bakayoko finds Lozano and he’s brought down by Le Normand who is the last man but the ref issues a yellow card due to Lozano’s touch taking the ball wide not direct to goal.
69′ SUBS
A triple change by Napoli as Mertens , Bakayoko and Lozano are replaced by Petagna, Demme and Politano.
73′ SUB
Elmas replaces the goal scorer Zielinski.
78′ SUBS
A triple change for Sociedad as Monreal, Le Normand and Guevara are replaced by Isak, Aihen and Sagnan
83′ SUB
Rui is replaced by Ghoulam.
83′ Sociedad pushing for an equaliser as Januzaj runs the ball out of play after a nice bit of skill down the right hand side.
86′ Januzaj hits a weak shot straight at the goalkeeper.
90′ Fabian with a weak effort straight at the keeper as the game comes to a close.
91′ GOALLLLLL REAL SOCIEDAD
A Huge goal for Sociedad as the ball falls to Willian Jose in the box and he smashes the ball into the roof of the net! They are through as it stands.
93′ A Massive goal in Croatia as Rijeka score a 93rd minute winner against AZ Alkmaar and Real Sociedad are through along with Napoli.
FULL TIME
Willian Jose’s last gasp equaliser sees Real Sociedad go through to the knockout stages of the Europa League along with Napoli as the two teams draw 1-1 and Napoli top group F.
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