Rampant Napoli
Rafa Benitez worked his European magic again on Thursday as a rampant Napoli produced a superb display to beat VfL Wolfsburg 4-1 in Germany in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
Captain Marek Hamsik scored twice in between strikes by Gonzalo Higuain and Manolo Gabbiadini for the visitors at the Volkswagen Arena, and while Nicklas Bendtner got one back late on, next week's second leg now looks set to be a formality.
Benitez has come under increasing pressure for Napoli's faltering domestic form, with a run of just two wins in eight matches in Serie A seeing them slip seven points adrift of third place and a Champions League qualifying spot.
That means winning the Europa League now looks the easiest route into the continent's leading club competition for Napoli.
Meanwhile, current trophy holders Sevilla had two substitutes to thank as they came from behind to beat Zenit St Petersburg 2-1 at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Results
Dynamo Kiev (UKR) 1 (Lens 36) Fiorentina (ITA) 1 (Babacar 90+2)
Club Brugge (BEL) 0 Dnipro (UKR) 0
Sevilla (ESP) 2 (Bacca 73, Suarez 88) Zenit St Petersburg (RUS) 1 (Ryazantsev 29)
VfL Wolfsburg (GER) 1 (Bendtner 80) Napoli (ITA) 4 (Higuain 15, Hamsik 23, 64, Gabbiadini 77)
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