Benfica gave their hopes of reaching the knockout play-off round of the Champions League a big boost as they defeated Napoli to record successive wins in the competition.
Jose Mourinho’s Benfica side began the league phase with four defeats in a row, but have now followed up a victory at Ajax with a home win against the Italian champions.
The hosts came close to scoring with two opportunities in the space of 30 seconds, but Franjo Ivanovic had a shot parried by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, with Fredrik Aursnes then firing wide when shooting across goal.
But Benfica, who had to battle through two qualifying rounds to get into the league phase, took a 20th-minute lead through Richard Rios’ flicked effort after Napoli failed to clear a cross into the penalty area.
Rios then turned provider as his low cross from the right was superbly diverted into the net at the near post by Leandro Barreiro early in the second half.
Napoli pushed to get a goal and a route back into the game, but Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay headed wide following a corner after Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin had denied David Neres.
The result leaves Napoli 23rd in the 36-team league on seven points, with two-time European champions Benfica two places below them on six points.
The sides between ninth and 24th at the end of the league phase will feature in the two-legged knockout play-off round, with both Napoli and Benfica needing to pick up more points to secure their spots.
Napoli play at Copenhagen on 20 January and end with a home game against Chelsea on 28 January, while Benfica travel to Juventus on 21 January before entertaining Real Madrid a week later.
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