Napoli took the lead within the first minute, when Matteo Politano volleyed home from a Spinazzola cross. Bodø/Glimt replied in the 27th minute, as Jens Petter Hauge finished from close range after the visitors had barely threatened the Napoli area. Napoli went back in front in the 41st minute: Kevin De Bruyne slipped a pass to McTominay, whose shot was deflected past goalkeeper Nikita Haikin. Napoli had further chances before the break but went in 2-1 ahead.
After the interval Bodø/Glimt pressed harder and drew level in the 62nd minute, according to Blick, when Andreas Helmersen struck low into the corner after a pass from Sondre Fet. McTominay had hit the woodwork shortly before that. He restored the lead in the 75th minute, heading in a Politano cross. Late on, a Giovane cross from the left was deflected into the Napoli net by Odin Bjørtuft in the 88th minute, which Blick and BBC describe as an own goal, while Fanpage credits Giovane with closing the scoring. Fet headed in during stoppage time (90+4 according to Blick) after a Bjørtuft effort came back off the bar, making the final score 4-3.
Napoli coach Max Allegri said he had given De Bruyne a simple brief for his deeper role in front of the defence.
“De Bruyne is an extraordinary player, I only told him he will enjoy playing in front of the defence.”
Allegri also pointed to the team's defensive weaknesses, which he said had to be worked on.
“When we are close to our own area, too easily balls pass inside.”
Allegri credited the return of Anguissa, who played 60 minutes after two months out, and said McTominay was not yet his full self. Before the match Napoli had lost to Arsenal and Villarreal in their first two Champions League games and were ninth in Serie A after a defeat at Venezia. McTominay had missed four games in September while undergoing surgery for a benign heart arrhythmia.
The win leaves Napoli on three points. They travel to Porto on Wednesday, 4 November at 20:00 GMT, and Fanpage notes that their schedule also includes a trip to Manchester City. Bodø/Glimt, who had beaten Borussia Dortmund 1-0 in the previous round, also have three points and host Lille on Tuesday, 3 November at 20:00 GMT.
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Napoli came from behind twice to beat Bodø/Glimt 4-3 at the Maradona on 20 October. Scott McTominay scored twice, his first goals of the season since heart surgery, and a late own goal settled the match.
AI text based on reports by BBC, Fanpage, Blick.ch and other publishers. Published .