It wasn't easy, but it was enough to get all three points in the opening night of the Europa League group stages as they defeated Sparta Prague by a score of 3 goals to 1. The atmosphere inside the Stadio San Paolo was superb as both sets of supporter groups were excellent. The match started off kind of slow as both sides were trying to get a feel for each other. Sparta were sitting pretty deep in their own half, allowing Napoli to move the ball around with ease.
Miguel Britos had the first opportunity of the match around the 7 minute mark as his long range effort went sailing over the top of the bar. The Uruguayan left back had more time and space than he realized but there was a defender closing in quickly, just missed hit the ball. Five minutes later, the visitors had their first chance as Ladislav Krejci crossed the ball towards Husbauer, but it was just a little too hard.
In the 14th minute though, Sparta took the lead through Josef Husbauer. Husbauer took his shot from outside the 18 yard box and blasted the ball past Rafael. Hamsik had the best opportunity for Napoli as the ball hit the bar but it bounces off and as Prague were trying to clear the danger, one of their defenders handled the ball and gave the home side a penalty. Gonzalo Higuain stepped up to take it and placed it perfectly past a diving David Bicik. That was about all the action in the first half as both sides went into the break leveled at 1 all.
After the interval, the flood gates opened up. Dries Mertens got on the score sheet in the 51st minute as Gonzalo Higuain played a beautiful low cross inside the eighteen yard box which sliced the Prague defense apart, and the Belgian international just poked the ball into the open goal. Gargano had a look on goal from distance but his shot was saved, the rebound fell to Hamsik and his effort was blocked excellently by a Sparta defender.
Napoli finished off the scoring with a brace from Mertens in the 80th minute which was merely the icing on the cake. It was really a beautiful goal as he split to defenders in the box, found a bit of space 10 yards out and rifled the ball into the near post just underneath the diving goal keeper. The home side next travel to Slovakia to take on Slovan Bratislava as Sparta play hosts to Swiss side Young Boys.