Napoli defeated Young Boys 3-0 at the Stadio San Paolo in the Europa League on Thursday night.
A hat trick from Jonathan De Guzman sent Napoli level on points with Sparta Prague at the top of Group I with two matches to play.
Leonardo Bertone, who scored the second goal for Young Boys two weeks ago, was given a start against the Naples side that had lost just once in their last nine games in all competitions.
The opening few minutes were a cagey affair before Napoli started asserting some control over proceedings. Lorenzo Insigne had the first real chance of the game after he was picked out by Dries Mertens, but a fine diving save from Yvon Mvogo denied the 23-year-old.
Miguel Britos suffered a nasty head injury after receiving a boot from Raphael Nuzzolo as he attempted to clear a cross but the defender was back on the field after a couple of minutes.
De Guzman struck the bar shortly after as his first time shot from a Mertens cutback shaved the woodwork and the Dutchman came close again after a couple of minutes with a glancing header that went inches wide of the far post after another Mertens’ cross.
Napoli were increasingly threatening as the half wore on though Britos couldn’t carry on any further and was replaced by Faouzi Ghoulam seven minutes before half time.
Mvogo had to be on his toes to deny Insigne from range, but he couldn’t do anything about De Guzman’s cross that become a shot a minute later.
The former Swansea man curled in a brilliant effort from the wing which looped over the goalkeeper and into the far corner and the home side held a deserved 1-0 lead going into half time.
The hosts started the second half as they finished before the interval as De Guzman and Zapata came close to doubling their lead.
Insigne was next and the forward had two good chances within the space of a minute around the hour mark. First he shot inches wide from Mertens’ pass before blazing inches over the bar after being put through by Gokhan Inler.
The incessant pressure paid off as De Guzman got his second after an incredible run by Zapata who ran from inside his own half gliding past a couple of players before laying it off on a plate for the Dutchman.
Jose Callejon replaced Insigne who had been brilliant all night, and the Spaniard had a very good chance immediately after coming on as he hit a wonderful Mertens’ pass straight at the keeper.
De Guzman got his hat trick seven minutes from time after a poor clearance by Alain Rochat fell to him five yards out and he converted past a hapless Mvogo.
Rafael though had to be on his toes as he denied Adrian Nikci on the 90th minute mark after the substitute raced clear only to be denied by the alert goalkeeper.
