Napoli appeared sluggish and out of steam as they capitulated 2-0 to Jose Mourinho’s Benfica, placing their Champions League progress in actual doubt.
The Partenopei have been nonetheless lacking Stanislav Lobotka, Billy Gilmour, Kevin De Bruyne, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, Miguel Gutierrez and Romelu Lukaku, so had the in Serie A on Sunday. had misplaced the opening 4 video games within the competitors earlier than beating Ajax. Dodi Lukebakio and Henrique Araujo joined long-term absentees Alexander Bah and Bruma on the remedy desk, however star striker Vangelis Pavlidis was surprisingly benched.
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LISBON, PORTUGAL – DECEMBER 10: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of SSC Napoli (R), and Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of Benfica (C), discuss on the facet line previous to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Section MD6 match between SL Benfica and SSC Napoli at on December 10, 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photograph by Gualter Fatia/Getty Photos)
Leandro Barreiro had penalty appeals within the opening 4 minutes, however VAR confirmed the referee’s studying that Eljif Elmas received the ball first.
Benfica had a double alternative when Fredrik Aursnes sprung the offside entice and his back-heel flick launched Franjo Ivanovic, however Vanja Milinkovic-Savic made a giant one-handed save, then Aursnes turned the rebound inches huge.
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Napoli received away with an enormous error taking part in out from the again when Milinkovic-Savic handed it straight to Aursnes, who in flip by some means drilled huge of the close to put up.
Nonetheless, Benfica took a deserved lead moments later when Ivanovic nodded down a cross and Richard Rios reacted faster than anybody else to prod dwelling from 4 yards.
LISBON, PORTUGAL – DECEMBER 10: Richard Rios of Benfica runs with the ball beneath stress from Eljif Elmas of SSC Napoli through the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Section MD6 match between SL Benfica and SSC Napoli at on December 10, 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photograph by Gualter Fatia/Getty Photos)
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Giovanni Di Lorenzo nodded a ball throughout the face of objective, then Scott McTominay collided with Matias Olivera as they each went for the header on the far put up.
An acrobatic Nicolas Otamendi try was charged down and he fired the rebound over, so Antonio Conte made a double change on the break, switching to a 4-4-2 formation.
Simply after Alessandro Buongiorno’s header was straightforward for the goalkeeper, Benfica scored their second with a well-worked transfer down the fitting, concluding with a Rios roll throughout and Barreiro getting in entrance of Amir Rrahmani to flick in from six yards on the close to put up.
LISBON, PORTUGAL – DECEMBER 10: Nicolas Otamendi of Benfica reacts through the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Section MD6 match between SL Benfica and SSC Napoli at on December 10, 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photograph by Gualter Fatia/Getty Photos)
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Any remaining perception visibly drained from Napoli, who struggled to create any actual scoring alternatives in Lisbon.
David Neres compelled Anatoliy Trubin to fingertip a snapshot over the bar, whereas McTominay at full stretch couldn’t join with a Matteo Politano cross to the again put up.
As a substitute, Milinkovic-Savic saved the scoreline down when his gloves have been stung by substitute Pavlidis within the closing levels, then he stood his floor and used all his top to forestall a Pavlidis lob.
Napoli have now misplaced their final 5 away Champions League fixtures on the bounce.
Benfica 2-0 Napoli
Rios 20 (B), Barreiro 49 (B)