There are moments of true magic in the beautiful game of football. This year, perhaps no one knows this better than SSC Napoli – in sizzling form in the Serie A, and now having sealed their spot in the final sixteen of the Champions League! Napoli’s debut in the Champions League has been nothing less than a Cinderella story. The Azzurri, playing in Europe’s most elite competition for the first time, faced a test for the ages in a group which included powerhouses Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Villarreal – nothing to sneeze at.
Yesterday saw the conclusion of this Cinderella story, and the Partenopei become the belles of the ball. Napoli scored twice in the last twenty-five minutes with goals from Gokhan Inler and Marek Hamsik to beat the Yellow Submarine 2-0 and progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
The Azzurri (along with Milan’s two powerhouses, the Serie A’s other representatives, who also qualified) await their fate until December 16th, when the draw will be made. Until then, however, they – and the legions of Napoli supporters who awaited this moment with bated breath – will continue to celebrate a fairy tale come true!
Image via UEFA
