Napoli affected by Benfica collapse

 

Having been held at home, the Napoli coach blamed his side's disappointing performance on the earlier result in Group B.

Maurizio Sarri believes his Napoli side were "negatively affected" by Benfica's draw at Besiktas as they also slipped up and were held by Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League.

 The Serie A side would have progressed to the knockout stages had they and Group B rivals Benfica both won on Wednesday, but the Portuguese outfit blew a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 before the later game kicked off at San Paolo.
And after seeing his Napoli team booed by their supporters at the end of a goalless stalemate, Sarri admitted that the group's other result was to blame as no result could guarantee qualification.
"We went out for the warm-up with Benfica winning 3-1, and then the news came that it was 3-3," he told Mediaset Premium.