Napoli were eliminated from the Champions League thanks to Shakhtar Donetsk’s win, but the Partenopei couldn’t even hold up their end of the bargain.
Maurizio Sarri’s side had to win and hope that Manchester City won in Kharkiv, but they ultimately fell to a 2-1 defeat, with the Ukrainians winning 2-1 in the other match.
With Napoli now dropping into the Europa League, Football Italia rates the players.
Words: Gaby McKay
Pepe Reina – 6
Napoli were eliminated from the Champions League thanks to Shakhtar Donetsk’s win, but the Partenopei couldn’t even hold up their end of the bargain.
Maurizio Sarri’s side had to win and hope that Manchester City won in Kharkiv, but they ultimately fell to a 2-1 defeat, with the Ukrainians winning 2-1 in the other match.
With Napoli now dropping into the Europa League, Football Italia rates the players.
Words: Gaby McKay
Pepe Reina – 6
The goalkeeper could do nothing about either of the goals, and was largely untroubled otherwise. Built the play from the back as usual.
Christian Maggio – 5
Solid enough down the right flank, the veteran can’t provide the same attacking impetus Elseid Hysaj can and that was evident tonight.
Did nothing wrong, but didn’t hugely affect the match either.
Raul Albiol – 4
The Spaniard was at fault for both of Feyenoord’s goals, and will be disappointed with his display tonight.
Albiol was beaten in the air for Nicolai Jorgensen for Feyenoord’s equaliser, before switching off completely as Jerry St Juste nodded home the winner.
By that stage it was clear the result wouldn’t matter, given events in Ukraine, but the experienced defender can do much, much better than he did tonight.
Kalidou Koulibaly – 5.5
Koulibaly was his usual imposing self, but the more classy, subtle aspect of his play was largely missing tonight.
Kicked the ball long under pressure on several occasions, while in Serie A he would have calmly found a teammate.
Elseid Hysaj – 5
Faouzi Ghoulam’s injury has pushed the Algerian into an unfamiliar left-back role in recent weeks, and he’s acquitted himself well.
Here though he failed to stop Steven Berghuis’ cross for the Feyenoord equaliser after being twisted and turned by the Dutch international.
Hysaj deserves some understanding, given the mitigating circumstances, but one of Napoli’s most reliable performers wasn’t at his best tonight.
Allan – 4.5
This was a real off night for Allan, who has been absolutely crucial to the side Maurizio Sarri has constructed.
The midfielder completed under 70 per cent of his passes, and gave away several fouls in the middle of the park so it was no surprise when he was hooked after an hour.
When he’s having an off night, you know something is wrong for the Partenopei.
Amadou Diawara – 6
It was from Diawara’s free-kick that the opening goal eventually arrived, and the youngster was perhaps the best of Napoli’s midfielders.
Kept the ball moving in midfield and wasn’t afraid to knock it long when some variety was required.
Marek Hamsik – 6
Performances like these are become something of a feature for the Napoli captain this season.
Hamsik wasn’t bad, far from it, but he didn’t grab the game by the scruff of the neck in the way everyone knows he can.
Looked as though he’d finally get the goal to equal Diego Maradona’s record, but was denied by Renato Tapia.
Hamsik hasn’t been bad this season, but the Partenopei need him to get back to his best.
Jose Callejon – 5
In what was something of a theme for Napoli, Callejon was a long way from his best.
The forward consistently gave the ball away, and mustered just one shot all night. With Lorenzo Insigne out the Spaniard had to step up, and frankly he didn’t.
Dries Mertens – 5
Couldn’t make the ball stick up front, as his usual velcro touch deserted him.
A promising first-half run ended with his shot being deflected wide, but Mertens’ usual threat was badly missed.
Piotr Zielinski – 7
Zielinski replaced Lorenzo Insigne, who had started the previous 60 games, in an unfamiliar wide role.
He scored the opening goal with a simple finish, but provided a constant threat all night so much so that Insigne’s absence was hardly felt.
Substitutes:
Marko Rog – 4
Came on as a substitute for the final half hour but couldn’t get into the game.
Mario Rui – 4
Rui came on for Maggio, allowing Hysaj to move back to the right, and provided more of an attacking threat.
Adam Ounas – N/A
Given 15 minutes when all of the intensity had gone out of the game.