Stunning Spartak rock Napoli thanks to Promes double

Napoli 2-3 Spartak Moscow
Europa League Group C
Thursday 30 September, Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Napoli

Goals: Napoli - Elmas 1’, Osimhen 90+3’; Spartak - Promes 55’, 89’, Ignatov 81’
Sent off: Napoli - Mario Rui 29’; Spartak - Caufriez 83’

Spartak’s trip to southern Italy could not have got off to a worse start, as they fell behind to a scrappy goal with 14 seconds. Elif Elmas was on hand to slot home a sucker-punch of an opener after Aleksandr Maksimenko was caught out of position.

Napoli were predictably confident from the off - they have won all of their first six league games for only the second time in their entire history - but were then rocked by a red card to defender Mario Rui.

Ten minutes after the break, Quincy Promes was on hand to draw Spartak level as just rewards for Rui Vitoria’s men. The numerical superiority was counting heavily, and with 10 minutes remaining, Mikhail Ignatov swept home a beautiful first-time finish from Ayrton Lucas’ cutback to put the visitors in front.

The drama wasn’t over though, as barely two minutes later, Maximiliano Cufriez was also sent off. It was Spartak who hit next though, as the fractured closing stages saw Aleksandr Sobolev in acres of space behind the defence to square for Promes to tap home from a few yards out.

It was just as well, since four minutes into added time Victor Osimhen finished a tap-in of his own to snatch the faintest glimmer of hope for the hosts.

Napoli drop to third in the group on two points, while Spartak overtake the Italians into second three points.

Next Europa League fixtures: Wednesday 20 October - Spartak Moscow vs Leicester City; Thursday 21 October - Napoli vs Legia Warsaw