Gulf Today Report

Napoli defeated Croatian side Rijeka 2-0 to honour the memory of Diego Maradona, the Italian club’s greatest and most popular player, and to go top of Europa League Group F.

The Napoli team took the field for the Europa League game wearing number 10 shirts with Maradona’s name emblazoned on the back “Diego is a legend and will never die,” Gattuso said after the match.

“Since yesterday you could see that the city breathed a different atmosphere. “We hope to dedicate something important to him and win a trophy.

“In this city we have talked about it for too many years.”

Another Italian team, Roma clinched last 32 spot with a 2-0 win at Romanian side Cluj. Arsenal, Leicester City and Hoffenheim also sealed their places in the knockout stages with their respective victories.

Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe netted the opening goal to put himself back in manager Mikel Arteta’s good books. Jame Vardy scored a last-gasp leveller in a thrilling 3-3 at Braga to help Leicester advance into next round to join fellow Premier League side Arsenal, who beat Molde 3-0.

Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur are level on nine points with Group J leaders Royal Antwerp after a 4-0 thumping of bottom side Ludogorets, who are yet to pick up a single point. Spur’s comfortable home win was the stage for an incredible long range strike from Harry Winks, whose launch from near the left wing put Jose Mourinho’s side three goals ahead following an earlier Carlos Vinícius brace.

Serie A leaders AC Milan were held to a 1-1 draw by Lille in the Europa League on Thursday after a well-worked Jonathan Bamba goal cancelled out Samu Castillejo’s effort for the Italian side.

The result leaves Lille on eight points at the top of Group H.