Napoli defeated Trabzonspor 4-0 at the Huseyin Avni Aker Stadium on Thursday evening in the first leg of the Europa League Round of 32.
Goals from Henrique, Gonzalo Higuain and Manolo Gabbiadini inside the opening 30 minutes and a Duvan Zapata strike in additional time in the second half gave the Neapolitans a commanding lead for the return leg at the Stadio San Paolo.
The Turkish Super Lig side faced a squad selection headache ahead of the first ever meeting between the two sides in European competition and were only able to name four substitutes.
Essaid Belkalem, Yusuf Erdogan, Majeed Waris and Mustapha Yatabare all ruled out with injuries, while influential playmaker Mehmet Ekici and former Chievo, Genoa and AC Milan midfielder Kevin Constant were also missing through suspension.
Napoli made eight changes to the side that lost 3-1 at Palermo on Saturday, and started the match brightly with three early corners.
This early pressure resulted in the opening goal after just six minutes as an out swinging Gabbiadini corner fell straight to the feet of Kalidou Koulibaly inside the six-yard box.
Hakan Arikan blocked his close range attempt, although Henrique was quick to react and score his first ever goal in European competition on his eight appearance with a looping header.
Napoli had won only one of their four European away games this season, but doubled their lead following an excellent surging run down the left side by Gabbiadini.
The January signing from Sampdoria left the Trabzonspor defence in his wake before playing a perfectly weighted pass to the back post that Higuain did not have to break his stride for to tap in.
Having created the second goal, Gabbiadini would then get on the scoresheet for himself seven minutes later as he spectacularly controlled a Raul Albiol cross and spun in the same movement to beat Arikan.
The Partenopei were enjoying their first ever European encounter against Turkish opponents and Higuain nearly scored a spectacular fourth goal having jinked away from Soner Aydogdu and Jose Bosingwa before crashing a shot off the crossbar.
Walter Gargano was withdrawn for David Lopez at the start of the second-half, while Trabzonspor immediately recorded their first shot on target with Erkan Zengin forcing Mariano Andujar into a diving save.
The Partenopei continued to control the match with Dries Mertens coming close to adding to his three goals in the Europa League this season with a curling shot that went just over the crossbar.
Sefa Yilmaz had a rare opportunity with a header that was comfortably caught by Andujar, before Jose Callejon replaced Jonathan de Guzman.
Oscar Cardozo spurned the Black Sea side’s best opportunity when he blasted over the crossbar from close range in the final 15 minutes.
Napoli made their final substitution with Zapata coming on for Higuain after 80 minutes.
Fatih Atik conceded a late penalty after pulling down Mertens when he was running away from the box, but the Belgian winger missed the target from the resultant spot-kick with his right-footed effort going wide.
Substitute Zapata would add a fourth goal for Napoli in additional time with a close range finish after a Callejon effort was blocked.
