De Guzmán hat-trick puts Napoli in command
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Article summary
SSC Napoli 3-0 BSC Young Boys
Jonathan De Guzmán's hat-trick earned Napoli a third victory in Group I and took them level with AC Sparta Praha at the section summit.
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• Napoli win comfortably thanks to Jonathan De Guzmán hat-trick
• Hosts dominate to avenge matchday three loss to Young Boys
• Napoli now joint top of Group I with Sparta on nine points
• Young Boys three points behind in third
• Next games: Sparta Praha v Napoli, Slovan Bratislava v Young Boys (27 November)
SSC Napoli remain level at the top of UEFA Europa League Group I thanks to a Jonathan De Guzmán hat-trick in a comfortable 3-0 win over BSC Young Boys.
The Swiss side had defeated Napoli a fortnight previously, but the tables were turned at the Stadio San Paolo as Rafael Benítez's team picked up their third win in the section. They are now level on nine points with AC Sparta Praha, with Young Boys three behind.
Chances were at a premium in the early stages before Napoli began to take control. Yvon Mvogo saved from Lorenzo Insigne in the 14th minute then De Guzmán grazed the bar from ten metres after connecting with Duván Zapata's cross. Napoli pressed and, after creating a series of chances, finally took the lead in the second minute of added time at the end of the first half, when Mvogo misjudged De Guzmán's cross-shot which sailed into the net.
It was no more than Napoli deserved, and they looked to press home their advantage after the restart. Zapata failed to convert Giandomenico Mesto's low cross then Insigne spurned two great chances. The second goal was not long in coming, though, and on 65 minutes Zapata raced past two opponents before picking out De Guzmán to score. The Dutch midfielder completed his hat-trick with seven minutes to play when he latched on to a weak clearance and fired in from close range.