Napoli 2-0 Qarabağ: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Napoli 2-0 Qarabağ in the Champions League on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Napoli secured a solid 2-0 win over Qarabağ in the Champions League, but it wasn’t until the second half that things really clicked for the home side. The first half saw a tense battle with Qarabağ picking up a yellow card for K. Medina at 43’, while Napoli struggled to break through despite having the edge in possession. Come the second half, Napoli ramped up the pressure, but a missed penalty at 56’ kept the score level until S. McTominay broke the deadlock with an unassisted goal at 65’.

The game’s turning point came soon after with an own goal at 72’ that doubled Napoli’s lead and effectively sealed the result. Qarabağ tried to respond with a flurry of substitutions around the 75’ mark, but Napoli’s defence held firm, even after A. Rrahmani’s yellow card at 77’. Late changes for both sides couldn’t change the outcome, leaving Napoli with a clean sheet and three valuable points in a match that felt hard-fought but ultimately deserved.

Napoli edged possession with 55% compared to Qarabağ’s 45%, which reflected their slight control over the game’s tempo, allowing them more opportunities to build attacks and leading to their six corners against Qarabağ’s four. The yellow cards were even at two apiece, suggesting a competitive but not overly heated encounter, with bookings coming in key moments that disrupted momentum for both teams. Substitutions were heavily used, with Napoli making five changes to freshen up their lineup and maintain energy, while Qarabağ went one further with six, possibly in a bid to chase the game after falling behind.

Overall, these numbers paint a picture of Napoli being the more proactive side, using their possession and set-piece chances to grind out the win, though Qarabağ’s resilience kept things tight until the late goals.

The match stayed goalless through a cautious first half, but tension built with yellow cards: Qarabağ’s K. Medina booked at 43’, followed by Napoli’s N. Lang at 50’ and Qarabağ’s M. Jankovic at 55’. A pivotal moment came at 56’ when Napoli missed a penalty, denying them an early second-half lead and keeping Qarabağ in the contest. Substitutions started flowing, with Napoli bringing on M. Politano for S. Beukema at 64’, setting the stage for the breakthrough.

S. McTominay’s nodded in at 65’ finally opened the scoring, rewarding Napoli’s persistence. Just seven minutes later, an own goal at 72’ doubled the advantage, after a creative flick from McTominay. Further subs followed, including double change for Napoli at 75’, combined Qarabağ’s triple change at the same time told the story of a tactical encounter. Napoli’s A. Rrahmani picked up a yellow at 77’, but the visitors couldn’t capitalise as late adjustments at 90’ saw Napoli shore up with David Neres off for A. Vergara and A. Buongiorno for Juan Jesus.

Napoli lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, which gave them a solid defensive base while allowing wing-backs to push forward and support the attacking duo behind the striker. This setup helped them maintain 55% possession and generate six corners, with the midfield providing stability to control the game’s rhythm against Qarabağ’s threats. Substitutions like bringing on M. Politano for S. Beukema at 64’ added fresh legs on the flank, and later changes at 75’ with E. Elmas for N. Lang and L. Lucca for R. Hojlund injected energy into the attack, helping them capitalise on their dominance after the hour mark, while the 90’ swaps bolstered the backline to see out the win.

Qarabağ set up in a 4-2-3-1, offering a balanced structure with a double pivot in midfield to shield the defence and three attackers to support the lone striker, which allowed them to hold 45% possession and earn four corners despite being the away side. This formation kept them compact early on, frustrating Napoli’s advances, but as the game wore on, they needed to adapt. Double substitutions at 60’ with O. Kashchuk for Leandro Andrade and S. Mmaee for K. Medina aimed to boost their forward threat, while the triple change at 75’ – Dani Bolt for Matheus Silva, T. Bayramov for E. Cafarquliyev, and N. Akhundzade for C. Duran – tried to shift momentum and chase an equaliser, though it ultimately couldn’t overturn the deficit.

Scott McTominay earned Man of the Match honours for his standout performance in Napoli’s 2-0 victory over Qarabağ. He scored 1 goal, created 1 big chance that lead to the O.G., and made 2 key passes over his full 90 minutes on the pitch. His reaction header at 65’ broke the deadlock and turned the game in Napoli’s favour.

Recent Champions League matches:

• Win: 2-0 vs Qarabağ (H)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Eintracht Frankfurt (H)
• Loss: 2-6 vs PSV (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Sporting CP (H)
• Loss: 0-2 vs Manchester City (A)

Recent Champions League matches:

• Loss: 0-2 vs Napoli (A)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Chelsea (H)
• Loss: 1-3 vs Athletic Club (A)
• Win: 2-0 vs FC København (H)
• Win: 3-2 vs Benfica (A)

Napoli head into their next match against Roma on 30 November at 19:45 with a boost from this 2-0 win, sitting currently 18th with 7 points in the Champions League. The clean sheet and late goals could build confidence in their attack and defence, especially with McTominay’s form shining through, potentially helping them push for a stronger showing in what looks like a tough domestic clash.

Qarabağ will look to bounce back from this 2-0 defeat when they face Ajax on 10 December at 17:45, currently placed 16th with 7 points. The loss highlighted defensive vulnerabilities, like the own goal, but their resilience in possession and multiple substitutions show a team capable of adapting, which might help them regroup for a competitive outing in the Champions League.

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