Napoli ease to victory over Rangers and make club history

NAPLES: Napoli strolled to a 3-0 win over Rangers in the Champions League on Wednesday (Oct 26) to set a club record of 12 consecutive victories in all competitions.

Argentine striker Giovanni Simeone scored twice in the first half to put Napoli in charge at the Stadio Diego Maradona while Norwegian defender Leo Ostigard extended the lead with a thumping header from a corner in the 80th minute.

The result saw Serie A leaders Napoli surpass their previous longest run of consecutive wins stretching back to 1986, when Argentina great Maradona was their talisman.

Napoli, who had already qualified for the knockout stage, lead Group A with 15 points from five matches, three ahead of second-placed Liverpool, who they visit next week in their final group game.

Napoli will finish top of the group if they avoid defeat at Anfield by three goals or more.

Rangers, who were already eliminated, are bottom with no points and will miss out on the Europa League unless they beat Ajax Amsterdam, in third on three points, by at least five goals when they host the Dutch side, who were thrashed 3-0 at home to Liverpool.

Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti praised his team after overseeing yet another win despite making six changes to the team who beat AS Roma 1-0 in Serie A on Sunday.

“The extraordinary thing is when you don’t use a player for two games he gets a bit irritated and loses a bit of sharpness but this group do not do that. They train like top players and confirm they want to fight for their place."

Spalletti said he expected an exciting final match against Liverpool despite both teams already qualifying for the last 16.

“There is a great deal at stake in the next game, because Liverpool are very tough at home. A spectacle is guaranteed," he