Napoli comfortably advanced to the Champions League knockout stages with a 2-0 victory over Braga, securing their spot with two first-half goals on Tuesday.
Despite finishing second in Group C, trailing eight points behind Real Madrid, Napoli accumulated 10 points.
Meanwhile, Braga secured third place with four points, earning them a spot in the Europa League.
Union Berlin, after a 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid, concluded the group stage at the bottom with two points.
“Passing the group was our goal; we deserved to qualify and that’s good,” Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo said.
“There is a lot of work to do and to improve in some aspects, but we are playing good games with good performances and this gives us hope for the new year.”
Victor Osimhen played a crucial role in Napoli’s qualification for the Champions League knockout stages, scoring a goal as they secured passage with a 2-0 victory.
Napoli, able to afford a one-goal loss, sealed their qualification in the 33rd minute when Osimhen backheeled a Natan cross and then managed to nudge the loose ball into the net, leaving Braga needing to score four goals without reply.
This marked Osimhen’s first Champions League goal of the season.
The Nigerian international, who recently received the African Footballer of the Year award, missed both games against Union Berlin due to injury.
The Portugal side started energetically, with Rodrigo Zalazar’s backheel setting up Bruma for an early opportunity, but the striker pulled his shot wide.
Braga faced a setback with an own goal when Saatci’s attempt at a block ended up in the net, despite keeper Matheus’s efforts to save it.
Before Osimhen extended Napoli’s lead, Braga had a chance to equalise in the 25th minute, but André Horta’s long-range effort was tipped over for a corner by Napoli keeper Alex Meret.
“It wasn’t easy in the group; it was important not to concede goals. Great saves from Meret. We’re happy for him; it’s important for everyone not to concede a goal,” Di Lorenzo said.
Bruma had another chance just before halftime, unleashing a low shot in the 44th minute, but unfortunately, it went straight at the goalkeeper.
In the second half, Napoli’s manager, Walter Mazzarri, implemented tactical substitutions, substituting off Osimhen and Politano. The outcome remained secure, with Napoli in control.
Taking the reins from Rudi Garcia in November, Mazzarri saw his team successfully rebound to victory after enduring defeats in their three previous matches.
“I’ll have to be good at making the boys understand the difficulty of being champions of Italy,” Mazzarri said.
“I was interested in not conceding goals as well as getting through. We haven’t managed to feel solid, we needed balance.”
Napoli, the Serie A champions, reached the quarterfinals in last season’s Champions League, where they were knocked out by fellow Italian club AC Milan.