Massimiliano Allegri says Napoli must overcome their defensive fragility despite ending a run of five Champions League matches without a win with a 4-3 victory over Bodo/Glimt.
Scott McTominay scored twice as Napoli secured their first victory in the competition since a 4-3 win over Ajax in October 2022. They had lost to Arsenal and Villarreal in their opening two games.
Matteo Politano put the hosts ahead after only 54 seconds, striking a sensational volley at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Bodo/Glimt equalised through Jens Petter Hauge in the 27th minute, but Napoli restored their lead before half-time when McTominay finished from a Kevin De Bruyne assist.
The visitors levelled again after the interval, Andreas Helmersen beating Alex Meret, before McTominay scored his second goal. An 88th-minute own goal by Odin Bjortuft then gave Napoli what appeared to be a two-goal cushion, although Sondre Fet scored in stoppage time to set up a tense finish.
The result was Napoli’s first Champions League win in five matches, following one draw and four defeats. It was also the first time they had scored four goals in a European match since beating Ajax 4-2 in October 2022.
Allegri, who has faced pressure early in his Napoli tenure, said the performance showed his side still had significant weaknesses.
“Naturally, the more quality players you have on the field, the better, but it’s also true that results change your opinion,” he said, as quoted by Football Italia.
“In Florence and Venice, we had scoring opportunities where we got the final pass wrong. The same was true against Inter and Como.
“What we absolutely must improve is the sense of fragility. When you are fragile, you don’t attack or defend as effectively.”
Napoli had gone into Tuesday’s match after defeats by Villarreal and Venezia. Bodo/Glimt finished with the stronger expected goals (xG) figures, producing 2.67 from 15 shots compared with Napoli’s 1.53 from 17 attempts. Eight of Napoli’s efforts required a save from Nikita Haikin.
“We made a lot of mistakes at the start of the game, and it is never easy in the Champions League,” Allegri added.
“When we are close to the penalty area, we allow too many balls to get through easily, but this is work we must do with patience to read and intercept those passing channels, because that is what allows you to then go on the counter-attack.”
One of the positives for Allegri was De Bruyne’s display in a deeper midfield role alongside Frank Anguissa and McTominay.
The Belgium international created a team-high seven chances and made 24 passes in the final third. He also recorded 82 touches, level with Amir Rrahmani, with only Rafa Marin making more for Napoli, on 102.
“Kevin is an extraordinary player, I told him he’s going to really enjoy himself playing in front of the defence,” Allegri said.
“We also needed to rest [Stanislav] Lobotka, who did well when he came off the bench.
“Anguissa played 60 minutes, but he was making his first start, so inevitably the defence dropped a little deeper too. McTominay scored two goals, but he is not the real Scott yet.
“Fortunately, we have a lot of games and can get everyone back to match fitness, but defending deep we still let the ball through too many times.”
