EL: Hamsik hero in Slovakia

By Football Italia staff

Marek Hamsik scored one and created another for Gonzalo Higuain as Napoli won 2-0 against his old club Slovan Bratislava.

Elsewhere in the group, Sparta Prague beat Young Boys 3-1, so the Italians go three points clear at the top.

The Partenopei boosted confidence with a 1-0 win at Sassuolo on Sunday, but the performance was still far from impressive and the pressure stayed on Rafa Benitez. Jorginho, Raul Albiol and Juan Camilo Zuniga were injured, while Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Callejon rested. Marek Hamsik played for Slovan Bratislava until moving to Italy aged 17 and this was also his 40th European game in a Napoli jersey, a new club record.

Slovan lost their opener 5-0 to Swiss side Young Boys, but Duvan Zapata aimed a weak effort at the goalkeeper and Jonathan de Guzman’s attempt was deflected.

Hamsik had the chance to score against his former club, but scuffed the finish as he spun from six yards.

Napoli finally went in front when Hamsik took advantage of a defensive error, as he ran on to a Kalidou Koulibaly long ball over the top and was able to nod into an empty net, as the goalkeeper mistimed the run off his line.

Erik Cikos had the ball in the net after the restart, but only after being flagged offside. Moments later Marko Milinkovic did get the better of the offside flag and steered his free header just past the far post.

A Dries Mertens curler bounced off the top of the crossbar, but Rafael was forced into a save on Milinkovic’s swerving strike.

Gonzalo Higuain came off the bench and within 60 seconds had given Napoli a precious two-goal cushion. He peeled off his marker for a looping header on the inspired Hamsik cross to the back post.

Rafael almost gifted Slovan Bratislava when he dropped the ball, but Milinkovic ballooned it high and wide when faced with an open goal.

Milinkovic was easily Slovan’s most dangerous player and his free kick curled over the wall to smack against the crossbar.

Slovan Bratislava 0-2 Napoli

Scorers: Hamsik 35 (N), Higuain 74 (N)

Slovan Bratislava: Pernis; Cikos, Ninaj,Gorosito, Jablonsky; Kubik (Zofcak 71), Grendel (Milinkovic 46), Lasik (Kolcak 85), Peltier; Halenar; Soumah

Napoli: Rafael; Maggio, Koulibaly, Britos, Ghoulam; Inler, David Lopez; De Guzman (Callejon 63), Hamsik (Mesto 80), Mertens; Duvan Zapata (Higuain 73)

Ref: Strahonja (CRO)

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