Two great goals from Joao Pedro helped Chelsea beat Napoli 3-2 and advance to the Round of 16 of the Champions League in sixth place.
The Blues were in a precarious position heading into the final, remaining in the top eight on goal difference as they hoped to avoid two extra games in the knock-out play-offs.
Chelsea got off to a perfect start, despite being awarded an early penalty. Juan Jesus was penalized for handball at the Blues’ free-kick and, despite protests, Enzo Fernandes scored.
He then did his best to blast the ball past Alex Meret, but the setback seemed to energize Napoli.
They began to overwhelm Chelsea in search of an equalizer, which unsurprisingly happened after just 30 minutes. Hometown boy Antonio Vergara looked like Maradona when he charged into the penalty area and spun Wesley Fofana home.
And just before the break, Manchester United loanee Rasmus Højlund beat Napoli to victory, firing home past Fofana.
Enzo Fernandes celebrates after scoring a penalty to give Chelsea the lead against Napoli
Chelsea fielded a back three against Napoli, with Liam Rosenior looking to play against 3-4-3 master Antonio Conte in his own game.
However, by half-time it was clear that the tactics were not working. Cole Palmer was introduced on the break, but there was no change in form and Paul Merson of Sky Sports said it was “not a good move”.
“It’s not the substitutions, it’s the system that they should have changed,” he added in the soccer special.
Antonio Vergara celebrates after scoring the equalizer between Napoli and Chelsea
In the end, with Jamie Gittens and Trevor Chalobah brought on in the 59th minute, Chelsea eventually reverted back to their back four and it was perhaps no surprise that the Blues equalized just minutes later.
This was the first of two great goals for Pedro, who flew the ball around a defender and smashed the ball home from the top of the area.
Rasmus Hojlund celebrates giving Napoli a 2-1 lead against Chelsea
Since then, Chelsea have looked much more comfortable, winning with eight minutes of normal playing time. It was another clinical finish from Pedro, finishing low and below Meret, but the goalkeeper could only watch as the ball rolled past his outstretched, weak legs.
It was the Blues’ first away win in the Champions League this season, finishing with 16 points ahead of Sporting and Manchester City. Chelsea will not play in Europe again until March, when they will face either Qarabag, Monaco, Newcastle or PSG.
But for Napoli, losing in the league would be a disaster for their European trip. After an entire season marred by injuries, it was shocking to see the Serie A champions finish 30th out of 36 teams.
How will the Champions League knockout matches fit into Chelsea’s schedule?
Saturday 31st January – West Ham (h), Premier League, kick-off 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports Tuesday 3rd February – Arsenal (a), Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports Saturday 7th February – Wolves (a), Premier League, 3pm, live on Sky Sports Tuesday 10th February – Leeds (h), Premier League, 7.30pm Friday 13th February – Hull (a), FA Cup, 7.45pm Saturday 21 February – Burnley (h), Premier League, 3.00pm Sunday 1 March – Arsenal (a), Premier League, 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports Wednesday 4 March – Aston Villa (a), Premier League, 7.30pm March 10/11 – Champions League Round 16 First Leg Saturday 14 March – Newcastle (h), Premier League, 5:30pm, live on Sky Sports Sports March 17/18 – Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg Saturday, March 21 – Everton (a), Premier League, 5:30pm, live on Sky Sports
