Napoli beat Bodø/Glimt 4-3 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in the Champions League, earning their first points of the league phase. Scott McTominay scored twice, Matteo Politano scored inside the first minute and Bjørtuft’s own goal widened the gap before Sondre Fet’s stoppage-time reply.
Naples, Italy: Napoli arrived in the Champions League with no points and a point to prove under coach Massimiliano Allegri. It took less than a minute to start making it. By the end, after a seesaw match and a nervy finish, Napoli had three points and a first win of their Champions League campaign.
Politano strikes inside a minute
Matteo Politano gave Napoli the lead almost immediately, finishing with his left foot from a Leonardo Spinazzola cross. Bodø/Glimt, the Norwegian side that had beaten Borussia Dortmund 1-0 in the previous round, did not panic. Jens Petter Hauge equalised in the 27th minute to make it 1-1.
McTominay restores the lead twice
Scott McTominay put Napoli back in front just before half-time. Kevin De Bruyne played the through ball, McTominay finished, and the shot took a deflection on its way in. It was 2-1 at the break.
Bodø/Glimt levelled again in the 63rd minute. Sondre Fet’s pass found Andreas Helmersen, who turned inside the area and fired in for 2-2. Napoli answered through McTominay again, who rose at the back post to head in a Politano cross in the 75th minute.
Own goal, late reply
The margin grew late on when Bjørtuft’s attempt to deal with a Napoli ball ended in his own net. Even then the match was not settled. In stoppage time Fet followed up after Bjørtuft’s effort hit the crossbar and scored a third for the visitors, but the whistle came with Napoli ahead 4-3.
What it means
For Allegri’s side, the importance was simple: their first points of the campaign, after earlier defeats to Arsenal and Villarreal. For Bodø/Glimt, who came in on the back of that win over Dortmund, the night offered a reminder of how open the league phase can be, with three goals scored and nothing to take home.
Result: Napoli 4 (Politano, McTominay 2, Bjørtuft own goal), Bodø/Glimt 3 (Hauge, Helmersen, Fet). Half-time: 2-1. Venue: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples. Competition: UEFA Champions League, league phase, Matchday 3.
