When you are playing against a side who are regarded as one of the best on the continent right now, then your fixture is sure to have the eyes of the footballing world on you.
But while Napoli are attracting a lot of attention following a flying start to the Serie A and Champions League and saw more praise heaped on them following their 3-0 win in the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, there was only criticism for Rangers for their display from the media across Europe.
The danger is that the headlines next week for the Ibrox side could be the fact they have the worst ever record in the Champions League group stage. They must avoid defeat at home to Ajax i n their final Group A clash to avoid that. But here's how some media reported on their loss in Naples.
Corriere dello Sport (Italy)
Giving the visitors a brutal rating of 4/10, the Italian outlet wrote: “Okay, Napoli right now is a superhero with Superman's indestructibility, Iron Man's weapons and Batman's somewhat brutal aggression. But maybe the Rangers could try to worry the Azzurri for half an hour. So, just right for the show. Instead they too have gawked at the sparkling beauty of Neapolitan plots. In the same way that many watch a (David) Lynch movie: appreciating and understanding little. We could have done better, we could have studied more.”
De Telegraaf (Holland)
Ajax were relieved that Napoli didn’t slip up as it keeps them on course for a third place finish, despite losing to Liverpool. They head to Ibrox next week and the Dutch newspaper wrote: “The home team already distanced themselves in the opening phase. After 11 minutes, Giovanni Simeone completed the game skilfully, having been cleared by captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo. After about fifteen minutes the tension was more or less over.“Because Rangers lost again, it remains at zero points in the group. As a result, the Scots from coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst must win by five goals against Ibrox next week, against Ajax, because it was 4-0 for the team from Amsterdam earlier in the Johan Cruijff ArenA and the mutual result counts in a tie.
Marca (Spain)
The respected Spanish newspaper focused on the fact it was a second string Napoli side as they heaped praised on Giovanni ‘Cholito’ Simeone, sone of Argentinian legend and Atletico Madrid boss Diego. They wrote: “The ‘Cholito' Simeone led Naples' 'unit b' against Scottish Rangers with a double to extend the undefeated condition of a team that goes well in Italy and Europe, exhibiting football total and that adds up the fourteen official matches that he has played without knowing defeat and that accumulates 12 straight victories. Naples continues to fly.
"After the hard-fought victory against Roma, Spalletti rested Osihmen, Kvaratskhelia and Lozano, his usual attackers, for the 'Champions' duel, and brought in Politano, Raspadori and Simeone, in an unprecedented trident so far this season. The 'Cholito' already warned in a press conference saying that he was ready to be a starter, and so far he has shown not to let opportunities slip away.
"Against Rangers he was no exception. The Argentine striker wants to win the favour of his coach to have more minutes while he wants to earn a place in Argentina's list for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Five minutes were enough for him to sign a double, the first with a right cross after assistance from Di Lorenzo in the 11th minute and the second, with a header, in the 16th minute.
"First touch, winning individual duels and with defensive aids. He was where he had to be at all times, always helpful, generous and with the wickedness of a nine to generate danger. He became a nightmare for the rear of Rangers.”
ESPN (Argentina)
There was plenty of Argentine interest in this one given striker Giovanni Simeone's involvement and ESPN wrote: "Gio Simeone put Napoli ahead at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, precisely, after ten minutes. He caught a lateral pass and skillfully set the ball up with his left and finished on the run with his right. Unassailable for McGregor.
"The next goal was five minutes later when in position nine, he received a pass from the other side and finished off his rival almost at the penalty spot with a great header. Meanwhile, the Norwegian Leo Skiri Ostigard closed the win by 3 to 0 ten minutes from the end, to maintain the perfect walk in the tournament."
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