Jonathan de Guzman’s hat-trick gave Napoli a much-needed 3-0 Europa League win over Young Boys.

Sparta Prague crushed Slovan Bratislava 4-0 in the other game, so are joint leaders with the Italians on nine points.

Jonathan de Guzman’s hat-trick gave Napoli a much-needed 3-0 Europa League win over Young Boys.

Sparta Prague crushed Slovan Bratislava 4-0 in the other game, so are joint leaders with the Italians on nine points.

The Partenopei badly needed a win here, as their 2-0 defeat in Switzerland had left the group with these two teams and Sparta Prague all joint leaders on six points. Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens were used together in a rare choice with big changes at the back including Giandomenico Mesto’s first start of the season.

The lack of enthusiasm for the Europa League was evident by the mostly-empty Stadio San Paolo stands.

Insigne forced the first real save out of Yvon Mvogo with a trademark snapshot, while Miguel Angel Britos bravely flung himself at the feet of Nuzzolo to charge down a volley and got a kick in the head for his troubles.

Jonathan de Guzman fired inches over the crossbar from 12 yards, then the ex-Swansea man’s header skimmed the far post.

Insigne blasted over, but Britos felt dizzy and asked to be substituted a good 20 minutes after he had been kicked in the head. This incident will raise further questions over how medical staff should deal with potential concussion.

Insigne saw the goalkeeper off his line and tried to lob from his own half, narrowly off target. The young Italian went considerably closer with a viciously dipping shot that Mvogo flew to palm out from under the bar.

The deadlock was broken in first half stoppages when De Guzman’s cross-shot looped into the far top corner with Mvogo misjudging the flight of the ball.

It should’ve been 2-0 on 55 minutes, but Mertens pulled back from the by-line for Duvan Zapata to balloon over the bar. Insigne also drilled wide from a similar position, but De Guzman got his second of the game.

Much of the credit goes to Zapata, who used his bulk to hold off defenders and surged into the box, then drew the goalkeeper and rolled across for the unmarked De Guzman to tap in.

Moments later Zapata went for goal himself, but the strike was palmed out from under the bar. Duvan also blasted another off target, but de Guzman was quickest to react to a poor Alain Rochat clearance and pounced from 10 yards for his hat-trick. That could be a very important goal, as it gives Napoli a superior head-to-head record with the Swiss side.

Rafael ensured that scoreline remained intact with a save on Adrian Nikci.

Napoli 3-0 Young Boys

Scorers: De Guzman 45, 65, 83 (N)

Napoli: Rafael; Mesto, Henrique, Koulibaly, Britos (Ghoulam 38); Gargano, Inler; Insigne (Callejon 73), De Guzman, Mertens; Zapata (Higuain 79)

Young Boys: Mvogo; Hadergjonaj, Von Bergen, Vilotic, Rochat; Sanogo Junior; Steffen, Gajic (Kubo 60), Bertone, Nuzzolo (Nikci 60); Hoarau (Afum 68)

Ref: Hansen (DEN)

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