LONDON (AFP) – Napoli despatched Leicester crashing out of the Europa League because the Italian facet superior to the knockout phases with a 3-2 win in a dramatic conclusion to Group C on Thursday (Dec 9).
Leicester had been prime of the group going into the ultimate spherical of matches, however Brendan Rodgers’ crew had been condemned to an undesirable place within the Europa Convention League after the defeat in Naples dropped them to 3rd place.
Napoli had blown a two-goal lead as Leicester hit again to stage by half-time, however Eljif Elmas’s second objective of the sport gained it for the hosts after the interval.
Spartak Moscow completed prime of the group after a 1-0 win at Legia Warsaw, secured by Zelimkhan Bakaev’s Seventeenth-minute objective.
Leicester would have salvaged their Europa League place if Legia’s Tomas Pekhart hadn’t missed a stoppage-time penalty.
Napoli led to second place, two factors forward of Leicester, and can function within the Europa League knockout spherical play-offs in February.
Persevering with a disappointing season for the FA Cup holders, Leicester now have the undesirable burden of taking part in within the knockout play-off spherical of Europe’s least glamourous membership competitors when it resumes within the new 12 months.
“I’ve obtained to be sincere I do not even know what the competitors is,” Rodgers mentioned of the Europa Convention League.
“I used to be centered on the Europa League and profitable this group and on the very least ending second. However I’m certain we’ll discover out quickly sufficient.”
Seven Leicester gamers and three employees members missed the journey to Italy, with Rodgers revealing each optimistic Covid-19 instances and different sicknesses had depleted his squad.
He was nonetheless capable of identify eight of the crew overwhelmed by Aston Villa final weekend, in distinction to Napoli, who’re within the midst of a serious damage disaster which disadvantaged them of Victor Osimhen, Kalidou Koulibaly, Lorenzo Insigne and Fabian Ruiz.
Regardless of their health points, Napoli took the lead within the fourth minute as Adam Ounas marked his first begin for the membership since 2019 with a scientific low strike from simply contained in the penalty space.
Napoli struck once more within the twenty fourth minute when Andrea Petagna beat Leicester’s offside entice and squared his move to Elmas, who slotted previous Kasper Schmeichel with ease.
Leicester rocked
Jonny Evans gave Leicester hope when he fired dwelling after Napoli didn’t clear James Maddison’s Twenty seventh-minute free-kick.
Rodgers’ males blew a 2-0 lead in a draw towards Napoli in September and it was Napoli’s flip to squander that benefit this time.
Evans’ first objective in Europe for eight years was adopted within the thirty third minute by Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor’s maiden objective for Leicester.
Maddison’s free-kick was solely cleared to the sting of the world, the place the 23-year-old midfielder smashed an outstanding volley into the underside nook.
However Napoli regained the lead within the 53rd minute as Elmas lashed dwelling from Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s cross.
Maddison hit the submit from simply six yards moments later as Rodgers held his head in frustration.
Actual Sociedad secured second place in Group B with a 3-0 win towards PSV Eindhoven, who drop into the Europa Convention League.
Mikel Oyarzabal netted a Forty third-minute penalty and scored once more within the 62nd minute earlier than Alexander Sorloth struck within the ultimate moments after Ibrahim Sangare’s pink card for PSV.
Group B winners Monaco had been held to a 1-1 draw at Sturm Graz.
Group A winners Lyon misplaced their 100 per cent file on this season’s competitors after a 1-1 draw towards second-placed Rangers.
In Group D, first-placed Eintracht Frankfurt drew 1-1 at third-placed Fenerbahce, whereas second-placed Olympiakos misplaced 1-0 towards Antwerp.