McTominay Hero as Napoli Beat Qarabag 2-0 on Maradona Anniversary

On a drizzly Tuesday night in Naples, Napoli silenced doubters with a 2-0 win over Qarabag FK in the UEFA Champions League Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, a result that felt less like a routine group-stage fixture and more like a tribute. The match, played on the fifth anniversary of Diego Armando Maradona’s passing, carried emotional weight far beyond the scoreboard. And when Scott McTominay — the unassuming Scottish midfielder — netted the opener and forced a second goal via an own goal, the crowd’s roar wasn’t just for three points. It was for memory, for momentum, and for a team finally finding its rhythm in Europe.

Maradona’s Shadow, Conte’s Mission

Antonio Conte didn’t just want a win. He needed one. On November 25, 2020, Napoli lost more than a player — they lost the soul of their identity. Five years later, the stadium was draped in black and blue, with 32,019 fans holding candles and chanting his name. Conte, who took charge in 2021, made no secret of his intent: “This isn’t about tactics tonight. It’s about honoring a legend.” The players wore special armbands. The pre-match silence lasted longer than usual. And when the whistle blew, the pressure wasn’t just to win — it was to make it mean something.

A First Half That Felt Like a Hold-Up

Qarabag, the Azerbaijani underdogs, came prepared. They parked the bus — not lazily, but with discipline. Their 4-5-1 shape swallowed space, and goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski became the star of the first half. Napoli had 68% possession, but just 0.7 expected goals (xG) across the entire 45 minutes. David Neres curled a bicycle kick that Kochalski somehow clawed away. Giovanni Di Lorenzo slipped at the last moment when clean through. Then came the penalty: Di Lorenzo felled by Marko Jankovic, Rasmus Hojlund stepped up — and Kochalski guessed right, diving low and smothering the shot. It was the kind of save that changes games. And for 45 minutes, it looked like it might change this one too.

McTominay’s Moment

The turning point came at 65’. A corner. A scramble. Kochalski parried the initial header — and McTominay, lurking like a predator, tucked it in from two yards. No celebration. Just a nod to the stands. Seven minutes later, it got stranger. McTominay cut inside from the left, swung a wild hook shot toward the far post. The ball hit Jankovic’s outstretched leg and looped over the line. Own goal. No assist. No glory. Just pure, unscripted chaos. “He didn’t even celebrate,” said beIN Sports analyst Marco D’Alessandro. “He looked at the ref like he was asking, ‘Did that really count?’”

Qarabag’s Grit and Near-Misses

Don’t mistake the scoreline for dominance. Qarabag didn’t fold. Kochalski made a double save in the 78th minute — first denying Lang, then McTominay again. Neres smashed the crossbar. Hojlund, playing through thigh discomfort after leaving the Atalanta match on November 22, headed wide. Napoli had 18 shots. Qarabag had 3. But one of those three nearly equalized. The visitors didn’t just survive — they earned respect. Their manager, though unnamed in reports, has turned Qarabag into a European fixture. They’ve now played in 11 consecutive Champions League campaigns. This wasn’t a humiliation. It was a battle they refused to lose.

Why This Win Matters More Than the Table

Napoli entered this match on a three-match winless streak in Europe. Their Champions League hopes were slipping. Now, with two wins in four games, they’re firmly in the top eight of the league phase — a spot that guarantees at least Europa League football next year. But more than that, this was a psychological reset. McTominay, signed from Manchester United in 2024, had been criticized for inconsistency. Tonight, he was the difference. His two contributions — one goal, one forced own goal — were the first time since August that a Napoli player had directly influenced two goals in a single match. Conte’s system is demanding. But McTominay? He’s starting to understand it.

What’s Next?

Napoli face Real Madrid in their next European outing on December 10. Qarabag travel to Feyenoord on the same day. For Napoli, the focus shifts to consistency. Hojlund’s fitness remains a concern — his substitution in the 75th minute wasn’t tactical, it was precautionary. McTominay’s form, however, is no longer a fluke. He’s becoming Conte’s midfield enforcer, the quiet engine that keeps the ship steady. And if Napoli can carry this momentum into the new year, they might just challenge for a top-four finish in the league phase — a scenario few imagined after their 1-1 draw with Benfica in October.

Behind the Scenes: The Substitution Puzzle

The match reports conflict on substitutions. Sky Sports lists Noa Lang being subbed out twice — at 50’ and 75’. That’s impossible. The likely explanation? He was subbed in at 50’ and out at 75’. Rasmus Hojlund was replaced twice — once at 56’, again at 75’ — suggesting he was briefly reinserted after a tactical tweak. Qarabag’s Valgeirsdottir (likely a typo — should be Valgeirsson or Valgeirsdóttir) was subbed at 43’ and 61’, indicating injury or red card. These inconsistencies don’t change the result, but they remind us: even the best data can mislead.