Napoli beat Club Brugge 1-0 at the Jan Breydel Stadion on Thursday night in the Europa League, securing top spot in Group D.
Vlad Chiriches’ side-footed volley just before half-time gave the encounter its only goal.
In a game devoid of any atmosphere due to the match being played behind closed doors, the visitors began much the better of the two sides in the opening quarter-hour.
David Lopez was the man on the end of the match’s first real chance, but following his superb burst from midfield, he could only muster striking the side-netting from a tight angle.
Lopez’s chance proved to be the best of a rather dire opening half-hour with only Brugge’s Jose Izquierdo and Jelle Vossen being denied by two correct offside decisions mid-way through a promising attack.
Thankfully the deadlock was finally broken by the Partenopei when Chiriches swung a leg at a teasing corner with the effort bouncing past Sebastian Bruzzese.
With the second-half just minutes in Omar El Kaddouri really should have doubled the lead for Napoli when he burst into the area but his shot flew well over the crossbar.
Unfortunately the game soon fell into the midfield battle that occurred in the first-half, with only two shots on target heading into the final 30, with the away side having the honour of both those attempts.
Izquierdo came close just before the last quarter when his effort fizzed wide of the far post.
Napoli should have sealed the deal late on through Elseid Hysaj was met by a strong save from Bruzzese.
The result gave Napoli an even bigger gap between themselves and second place FC Midtjylland, thus easing to the group’s precious top spot.
