Napoli miss chance to move to brink of Champions League qualification

Napoli missed the chance to move to the brink of qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League after being held to a 1-1 draw at 10-man Copenhagen.

Napoli will host Chelsea next week needing a result, while Copenhagen have a tough task of their own against Barcelona.

The away team controlled the first half and they were able to get on top of the their Danish opponents when Thomas Delaney was given his marching orders just after half an hour, and Scott McTominay punished them with his fourth goal of Champions League campaign.

The 10-man hosts had no other option but to show more ambition in the second period and it paid off following a spell of pressure when Jordan Larsson tucked in the rebound from his own penalty to take an unlikely draw.

Napoli showed all the attacking intent in the early stages, McTominay fed Antonio Vergara who sent an effort inches wide of the post.

Copenhagen were coping well defensively but a major flashpoint in the game came on the half-hour mark when Delaney was sent off for a high challenge on Stanislav Lobotka.

Bosnian referee Irfan Peljto initially gave a yellow card to the Denmark international but changed his decision to a red after he was sent to the VAR screen.

And Napoli cashed in on the man advantage just seven minutes later to take the lead.

Eljif Elmas swung in a teasing corner which picked out the head of McTominay who nodded home the opening goal of the contest.

The visitors were quick out of the blocks in the second period too, Vergara forcing a save from Copenhagen goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski.

Copenhagen, knowing defeat would leave them with a mountain to climb to qualify, showed a little bit more courage and Mads Emil Madsen saw Vanja Milinkovic-Savic deny him from a corner.

Copenhagen were given the chance to equalise from the penalty spot after Alessandro Buongiorno brought down Mohamed Elyounoussi inside the area.

From the resulting spot kick, Milinkovic-Savic guessed right to save Larsson’s penalty but the ball fell nicely for him to tap in the rebound to bring the sides level.

Napoli went in search of the winner as Copenhagen seemed happy to take a point, Mathias Olivera thought he put Napoli ahead but was denied by a point-blank save from Kotarski.

Lorenzo Lucca stepped off the bench and fired over when it seemed easier to score as the sides were forced to share the points.

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