Napoli 2-3 Chelsea – Joao Pedro's superb second-half double sends Blues through to UEFA Champions League knockout stages

Chelsea completed their own "Italian Job" as they went to Naples and claimed a dramatic 3-2 victory after a rollercoaster of a match at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

The match had added edge with the knowledge that both sides needed to secure a victory, with Chelsea looking to earn a guaranteed spot in the last 16, while Napoli needed a victory to give them a chance of earning a play-off place and staying in the competition. It meant that, with so much on the line for both sides, the momentum swung one way, then the other as the two teams battled it out for victory in a thrilling encounter.

The drama turned up a notch after 19 minutes when Chelsea were awarded a penalty after a Reece James free-kick was blocked by the hand of Juan Jesus. Enzo Fernandez stepped up and, after taking his time to compose himself, slammed a low effort into the bottom corner to put the visitors ahead.

Napoli responded almost immediately as they pushed Chelsea onto the back foot and sent a succession of dangerous crosses into the Blues' box. And while the crosses didn't result in an equaliser, the leveller did eventually come, in spectacular fashion.

Naples-born Antonio Vergara latched onto the ball 40 yards out, turned and ran at the Chelsea defence. He brilliantly turned Wesley Fofana with a Maradona turn, then fired low into the far corner to send the Napoli faithful into raptures. It was his first senior goal for the club, and one that will live long in the memory for the 23-year-old.

Things got even better for the hosts just before the break when a good team move down the left flank ended with Rasmus Hojlund thrashing a low cross into the roof of the net to send Napoli into the dressing rooms 2-1 up.

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior responded at half-time by replacing Pedro Neto with Cole Palmer, and the England forward played a critical role in Chelsea's superb second-half fightback as Brazilian striker Joao Pedro scored two superb finishes to seal the victory.

His first came just after the hour mark, when Palmer found him in a pocket of space, 25 yards from goal. Joao Pedro took possession, shifted the ball to his left foot, then smashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

Then, when Palmer sent him through with a sublime pass, Joao Pedro raced through and finished superbly to complete Chelsea's second-half comeback and eventually seal the points.

Chelsea's dramatic fightback ensured that they secured sixth place in the overall UEFA Champions League standings, and guaranteeing their spot in the last 16 of the competition.

Napoli, meanwhile, were eliminated from the competition after finishing 30th in the table.

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior was delighted with the performance of his players after they battle back to defeat Napoli away from home and book their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

"I thought the character of the players, their resilience in the second half, the reaction to going behind was so positive. All the things I'm asking for," Rosenior told TNT Sports' Becky Ives and Karen Carney.

"I wanted to go aggressive in the first half. We had win-back moments in the half, but at the same time, the distances were too big, so we corrected it at half time, then made personnel changes.

"Joao Pedro scores a magnificent goal. It was a magnificent performance from him. He's given that to me since I've come to the club. So, all in all, just delighted that we're through, delighted it's the first time a team's won here for a very long time. So for the lads to come from behind and show that character makes me very, very happy."

Rosenior was also very happy to have avoided the playoffs, which would have added more stress to Chelsea's already stacked schedule.

"(It's) massive," he admitted.

"That's huge for us to be able to really work with the players on the training ground, because honestly, the schedule is mental. We've played, we've recovered, we've prepped the game, and then we've gone again.

"So, to actually work with the players on the training pitch, and for them to understand what we want to do as a staff with them will be great. And I can run them and get them fitter as well, which will be good."

TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole heaped praised on Liam Rosenior's side for their mental strength as they battled back from 2-1 down at halftime to defeat Napoli 3-2 in Naples and secure automatic qualification to the last 16 of the competition.

"It was a great performance from Chelsea," said Cole.

"This isn't the Napoli team of two years ago when they were blitzing everyone in Serie A, but it is an Antonio Conte team that's got quality.

"Liam [Rosenior] is still sorting his style of play, but the one thing that they have is character. When Chelsea went behind, I thought they could get rolled over a few weeks ago, so he has instilled something in them."

Chelsea overturned a half-time deficit to win a UEFA Champions League match for the first time since September 2017 against Atlético de Madrid (2-1), under current Napoli coach, Antonio Conte.

Cole Palmer became the first Chelsea player to assist two goals for the same teammate (João Pedro) in a UEFA Champions League match since Didier Drogba’s brace, assisted by Juan Mata against Valencia in December 2011.

Napoli lost a UEFA Champions League game when ahead at half time for just the second time, having lost 3-1 to Real Madrid in March 2017 (W19 D5)

João Pedro scored the first brace for Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League since December 2021 (Timo Werner against Zenit St Petersburg).

1. Arsenal - 24pts

2. Bayern Munich - 21

3. Liverpool - 18

4. Tottenham Hotspur - 17

5. Barcelona - 16

7. Sporting CP - 16

8. Manchester City - 16

Chelsea are officially through to the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, having finished sixth in the overall table.

In a dramatic last 15 minutes in the competition, goals were flying in all over Europe, and the league standings seemed to be changing with every passing minute.

But now, with all of the games now wrapped up, Chelsea's passage to the next phase via automatic qualification is now confirmed.

They'll go into the last 16 of the competition, with Chelsea joining fellow Premier League sides Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City in the top eight of the table. They're accompanied by Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Sporting CP.

Here's the moment Joao Pedro charged through to score Chelsea's clinching third goal as they came from behind to defeat Napoli 3-2 at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. A word, too, for the sublime through-ball from Cole Palmer, who came off the bench to make a crucial contribution in the second half.

Napoli go so close to equalising in stoppage time, as substitute Romelu Lukaku latches onto a cutback and fires first-time at goal, only for Sanchez to stand tall and block the goal-bound effort.

There will be a minimum of FIVE MINUTES of additional time at the end of this match.

He's had a superb second half, and thanks to his brace, Chelsea now lead in Naples.

Chelsea lead 3-2, and it's another superb goal from their Brazilian striker Joao Pedro!

Chelsea break, and Cole Palmer sends Joao Pedro through with a superb defence-splitting pass.

Garnacho is up there with him and, rather than pulling away to make space, he actually runs towards the Brazilian striker, which eliminated any option for a pass.

It meant Joao Pedro had to go it alone, and he did just that as he continued his run into the box and finished brilliantly to put Chelsea ahead.