Jose Maria Callejon and a Duvan Zapata scorcher gave Napoli a 2-1 win away to Olympique Marseille.
Jose Maria Callejon and a Duvan Zapata scorcher gave Napoli a 2-1 win away to Olympique Marseille.
Elsewhere in Group F, Borussia Dortmund beat Arsenal 2-1 in London, so all three teams are locked together on six points. Marseille have none.
The Partenopei needed to get their Champions League campaign back on track after a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal and welcomed Gonzalo Higuain back after his muscular problems, though Dries Mertens was picked instead of Lorenzo Insigne. Juan Camilo Zuniga and Miguel Angel Britos were out injured. Marseille lost their first two games and were without Lucas Mendes and Saber Khalifa.
After just three minutes Mertens had tested goalkeeper Steve Mandanda at the near post with a viciously dipping free kick. Benoit Cheyrou volleyed wide, but Napoli took the initiative and Pablo Armero hit the side-netting when he should’ve crossed for Higuain.
Mertens was lively, but stopped during a promising opportunity for an incorrect offside position, while Pepe Reina plucked a Souleymane Diawara header out of the air on a corner.
Napoli went on a rapid Mertens counter-attack moments later that sent Higuain clear one-on-one with Mandanda, but he sliced his shot wide.
Higuain did better before the break when setting up Callejon for the opening goal. Callejon chested down the cross, flicked it past his marker and smashed in at the near post.
Straight after the restart Napoli had penalty appeals waved away for a handling offence on Callejon’s pass. Gokhan Inler’s angled drive whistled wide and Andre Ayew only scuffed a promising Mathieu Valbuena cross.
The Partenopei doubled their lead with substitute Duvan Zapata’s first goal for the club. It was a stunner, as the Colombian curled into the far top corner from the edge of the box after Mertens went on the counter.
Olympique Marseille pulled one back in the final minutes, as the two Ayew brothers combined. Jordan set up Andre, whose shot from outside the area bounced past Reina.
Olympique Marseille 1-2 Napoli
Scorers: Callejon 42 (N), Zapata 67 (N), A Ayew 86 (M)
Olympique Marseille: Mandanda; Fanni (Abdallah 53), Diawara, N’Koulou, Morel; Romao, Cheyrou; Payet (Thauvin 71), Valbuena, A Ayew; Gignac (J Ayew 77)
Napoli: Reina; Maggio, Albiol, Fernandez, Armero; Behrami, Inler; Mertens (Mesto 76), Hamsik (Insigne 84), Callejon; Higuain (Zapata 58)
Ref: Cakir (TUR)