Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk reached the final of a European competition for the first time in their history this evening, beating Napoli 1-0 in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final clash.
The Ukrainian side went into the match with a slender advantage courtesy of their away goal in the 1-1 first-leg draw, and moved into an outright lead in the tie courtesy of Yevhen Seleznyov's header.
Napoli pushed for an equaliser to force extra time, but it was Dnipro who came closest to a second when Matheus hit the crossbar.
Find out how all of the action unfolded on a momentous night in Kiev courtesy of Sports Mole's live minute-by-minute coverage below.
Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's Europa League semi-final second leg between Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Napoli in Kiev. Just 90 minutes separate one of these two teams from a place in the final on May 27, where they will play either Sevilla or Fiorentina. There is plenty up for grabs for two sides who have rarely tasted such a big stage. Let's start with a look at the hosts...
Dnipro come into tonight's game with the slender advantage, although quite how that is the case they will still be trying to figure out. They were comfortably second best in the first leg last week and have keeper Denis Boyko to thank for keeping them in the match as Napoli spurned a number of fine chances in the second half especially. They couldn't add to their one-goal lead, however, and Seleznyov's late equaliser - from an offside position - handed Dnipro what could prove to be a crucial away goal.
The onus is very much on Napoli tonight, then, but Myron Markevych will also want to see an improvement from his side. He readily admitted that Dnipro were far short of their best in Naples a week ago and, while they got what was a very good result for them, their performance wouldn't have had too many people filled with belief that they could go on to lift the trophy. Defensively they were sound, but Seleznyov's goal was their only real chance of the match.
That has been the story of most of their season, however, with their strengths very much lying in defence. That could prove important again tonight as a clean sheet would guarantee them a place in the final, but if Napoli are just a fraction more clinical than they were a week ago then it will be hard to keep them off the scoresheet. Dnipro are a very organised and well-drilled side, though, as a record of 13 clean sheets from their 19 outings since the winter break is testament to.
Just one of those clean sheets have come in their last four games, however, and they have also only won once in that time. It is a noticeable dip in form for the Ukrainians, who had won 11 of 15 matches prior to that. They were beaten 2-0 at home to fourth-placed Zorya on Sunday, a result that saw them slip below Shakhtar into third in the Premier League table. They now trail the final Champions League spot by two points with three games remaining, so the Europa League may be their best bet to qualify now.
That defeat to Zorya was particularly disappointing as it came at home, where Dnipro have now lost two on the bounce for the first time this season. They play their Europa League games in Kiev as opposed to Dnipropetrovsk, but counting both as their home ground they had not lost any of their 11 home matches before those consecutive defeats and had even kept nine clean sheets in a row before losing to Shakhtar 1-0 in the cup recently.
Their passage through this competition has not exactly been straightforward, scraping through the group stages just a point above Qarabag having picked up only a solitary point from their opening three games. They managed to make it past Olympiacos, Ajax and Club Brugge to reach the semis, but they have only won six of their 15 Europa League matches this season, including qualifiers. They have, however, won their last four home games in this competition without conceding a goal having lost their opening two.
Their problems all come back to goals, however, and it is surprising Dnipro have made it this far considering they have only found the back of the net 12 times since the start of the groups - less than one per game. Only five of those have come at home, but they have also only conceded 10 times, and Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Zorya was just the second time that they have conceded more than one goal at home this season.
That is the challenge that faces Napoli, then, and if they don't progress tonight then they will be kicking themselves about their numerous missed chances in the first leg. In truth, this tie should be dead and buried already, but the Italians must regroup now and look to get the result they need this evening. One thing is for certain - Rafael Benitez's side must score past this stubborn defence if they are to stand any chance of making the final.
Thankfully, scoring goals has not been a problem for them this season - with the exception of the first leg in this tie. They have been very un-Italian in that respect, with only Juventus and Lazio finding the back of the net more times in Serie A. They are the top scorers in the Europa League this season too with 26 goals have have scored 29 goals in their last nine games - an average of just under three per game. Indeed, the first leg of this tie is the only match in that time where they have failed to score two or more.
They will be confident of clawing back that away goal tonight, then, but questions may be posed of them at the other end of the field. Continuing the un-Italian theme, Napoli weak point this season has very much been in defence. That has not strictly been the case in this competition having conceded the fewest goals of any team in the last four, but they have let in 45 in the league. That defensive record has prevented them from pushing for the title and could end up seeing them miss out on a Champions League place.
Napoli currently sit fourth in the Serie A table, with their position in terms of the Champions League even more precarious than that of Dnipro. They are three points behind Lazio with three games remaining, so this competition is also likely to be their best chance of securing a Champions League berth next season. A mid-season dip in form really hurt Napoli's bid for a top-three place, but they won't have given up on their goal just yet.
They have improved their form of late, with just one defeat in their last nine games following a run of only one win in nine before that. However, they have only won two of their last five and drawn both of their most recent games, including a thoroughly disappointing result against Parma on Sunday. Napoli were forced to come from behind twice against their already-relegated hosts to rescue a 2-2 draw that could end up having a fatal say on their Champions League hopes.
They are unbeaten in their last 10 Europa League matches, however, and have won eight and drawn just one of their 13 outings in this competition this season. Away from home Napoli have only won two of their last nine in all competitions, but they are unbeaten in their last four in the Europa League and have scored four goals in both of their wins in that time. They have conceded just one goal in that time too, with three clean sheets to their name.
Napoli also have the added benefit of experience at this level in the dugout, with Benitez aiming to become just the second manager to win Europe's second-tier club competition three times, after Giovanni Trapattoni. He won the UEFA Cup with Valencia and the Europa League with Chelsea, in addition to the Champions League with Liverpool 10 years ago. He is regarded as a European specialist, and Napoli may just need him to be at his tactical best to manoeuvre a way around Dnipro tonight.
TEAM NEWS: The teams are in for both sides, and the headline is that Seleznyov has earned a start for Dnipro ahead of Kalinic up front. That is the only change from the first leg for the hosts, while the visitors welcome Inler and Gabbiadini into the side. Full teams news for both coming right up...
DNIPRO STARTING XI: Boyko; Fedetskyi, Douglas, Cheberyachko, Matos; Luchkevych, Rotan, Fedorchuk, Kankava, Konoplyanka; Seleznyov
DNIPRO SUB: Lastuvka, Vlad, Bezus, Bruno, Gama, Shakhov, Kalinic, Matheus
NAPOLI STARTING XI: Andujar; Maggio, Albiol, Britos, Ghoulam; Lopez, Inler, Callejon, Gabbiadini, Insigne; Higuain
NAPOLI SUBS: Cabral, Henrique, Koulibaly, Jorginho, Gargano, Mertens, Hamsik
What can we make of those two teams, then? Well, it is no surprise to see Seleznyov come into the starting XI after he scored with his very first touch in the reverse fixture, although he is fortunate that it wasn't ruled out for offside. Kalinic started in Naples but, for all of his hard work, never really looked like scoring as Dnipro spent most of the time on the back foot. Seleznyov will pose a different challenge for the Napoli defenders tonight.
Dnipro's most dangerous player is usually Konoplyanka, but the winger was subdued in the first leg and barely got into the match at all. Dnipro don't need to attack tonight, but they are expected to be a little more adventurous at least, so we should see more of Konoplyanka tonight. He showed the odd glimpse of the talent that caught the eye of Liverpool and Tottenham a couple of season ago in Naples last week, but he was nowhere near his best.
One player who did shine in the first leg was Boyko in goal for the Ukrainians. He made his breakthrough on the international stage recently and showed exactly why he is rated highly by Dnipro with a man-of-the-match display to keep his side in the tie. It was usually Higuain he denied with some big saves and, while he looked less than convincing under the high ball on a couple of occasions, without him in such good form Dnipro could have had very little to fight for tonight.
Higuain will renew rivalries with Boyko this evening having been rested in the 2-2 draw with Parma at the weekend. The Argentine missed a number of clear chances in that first leg but is still the highest scorer left in the competition having netted seven times in this season's Europa League. Only Romelu Lukaku and Alan (both eight) have managed more than that this season, so a couple for Higuain tonight would put him on course of the competition's golden boot.
Another player who has been in the goals recently is Manolo Gabbiadini, who once again found the back of the net at the weekend to make it five in his last seven matches. Most of his contributions have been off the bench, with just two starts coming in that purple patch over the last seven games, but he is handed a chance from the off tonight. Hamsik is the man who drops to the bench as a result.
Elsewhere in midfield, Callejon and Insigne - who hit the post in the first leg - should both pose further attacking threat, while it was David Lopez who was on the scoresheet a week ago. That was his first goal for the club and he is by no means a goalscoring midfielder, but he proved that he can be useful at set pieces with his header in Naples. Inler joins him in the middle of the park tonight, with Jorginho dropping to the bench.
The back four remains exactly the same for Rafael Benitez, although Albiol is the only man to keep his place from the 2-2 draw with Parma on Sunday. Strinic, who played at left-back in that match, is ineligible having already played for Dnipro in this season's competitions, while Henrique and Koulibaly are replaced by Maggio and Britos respectively. Mario Andujar, meanwhile, continues between the sticks.
PREDICTION: We're 15 minutes from kickoff in Kiev, which means that it is time for a prediction! It will be interesting to see how Dnipro approach this game, as a clean sheet would suit them just fine. There is more pressure on them to play in the home leg, however, so they shouldn't park the bus as much as they did in the first leg. It is a very tough one to call, but Benitez has been here and done it, and I can see his experience shining through tonight. I'm going for a 2-1 away victory.
Napoli have faced Dnipro in Ukraine before, with the two sides being drawn together in the 2012-13 Europa League group stages. Dnipro ran out 3-1 winners on that occasion, but their overall record against Italian sides is not a good one. Before the first leg, they have lost five on the bounce again teams from Italy, including two against Inter Milan in this year's groups. their win over Napoli three years ago is their only triumph over an Italian side, with two draws and six defeats in their other eight meetings.
This is unchartered territory for Dnipro, who have never been in a European semi-final before this year. Their previous best was a couple of quarter-final appearances in the European Cup, reaching the last eight in 1984-85 and 1989-90. As for Napoli, they haven't been to the last four of a European competition since the Diego Maradona era, with the legendary Argentine leading his side to UEFA Cup glory in 1988-89.
Italian football seems to be on the way back up after a few quiet years, with Napoli and Fiorentina both in the Europa League semi-finals and Juventus having made it to the final of the Champions League last night. Italian clubs have won the UEFA Cup/Europa League more times than any other, but the last of their nine triumphs overall came way back in 1998-99, when Parma lifted the trophy. Spain, who have Sevilla in the semis, are just won behind on eight triumphs, six of which have come in the last 11 years.
Sevilla looked destined to reach the final too, holding a commanding 3-0 lead over Fiorentina going into the other semi-final second leg taking place tonight. We have coverage of that for you here as Fiorentina look to pull off a miraculous comeback and potentially set up an all-Italian final in Warsaw.
Dnipro's playing style can perhaps be best summed up by the fact that they have been shown the most yellow cards in this season's competition with 45 - 12 more than any other side. They have also committed the most fouls (226), but have been on the end of more fouls than any other team too (214) and have the most fouled player in Konoplyanka (43).
Napoli and Sevilla have lost just one game apiece on their way to the semi-finals, compared to four defeats for Dnipro to reach this stage. It would be something of a smash-and-grab job if Dnipro are able to make it all the way to the final, but they have done what they have needed to do up until this stage.
KICKOFF: Dnipro get us underway in Kiev as they look to hold Napoli at bay in order to reach a first European final in the club's history.
CHANCE! An early opening for the visitors, and guess who it falls to? Higuain gets his shot count up and running early on, getting his head to a free kick and flicking his effort over the top. Boyko was on his way out to no-man's land there.
SAVE! Dnipro win a free kick of their own in a decent position, and it is Konoplyanka who lines it up. His effort is powerful and has plenty of movement on it, but Andujar gets across to make a fairly comfortable stop.
It has been a bright start to this match from both sides, most notably Dnipro. They are showing a lot more attacking intent than they did in the first leg and the early signs are that they won't be sitting back to protect their away-goals lead here.
CHANCE! Higuain vs. Boyko II is underway! Once again the keeper comes on out top here, and it is a magnificent stop from the keeper. Higuain was played clean through on goal by Inler and only has Boyko to beat, but he fires his effort too close to the Ukrainian. What a chance that is.
Is it going to be another one of those nights for Napoli and Higuain? That really was a golden opportunity, but the ball is just not going in for the Argentine against Dnipro. An early away goal would have given the visitors a huge boost too.
That chance does at least appear to have knocked Dnipro out of their good early stride. Napoli are seeing more of the ball and preventing the hosts from getting any sustained period of pressure going, but they really should have a lead to defend right now.
Myron Markevych promised we would see the real Dnipro this evening, and his side have certainly been a lot more positive so far. With their defensive record, the temptation must have been there to park the bus again, but the hosts are looking to get on the front foot whenever possible at the moment.
Promising attack from Napoli as they sweep forward in numbers, but Callejon can't get on the end of a fine ball into the box. The visitors do get a corner out of it, but the subsequent delivery flies straight into the arms of the keeper.
The rain is pouring down in Kiev, which is making the surface very quick. The conditions could well end up having an important say in this game.
Napoli have the ball in the back of the net, but the whistle had long gone after Callejon had been ruled offside. The Spaniard lifted the ball over the keeper, which prompts the Dnipro players to call for a yellow card, but the referee applies some common sense.
Careless from Albiol as he is caught in possession deep inside his own half, but Dnipro don't make the most of the opening, playing too many sideways passes and allowing Napoli to get back in shape.
YELLOW CARD! Leo Matos becomes the first name in the book for a challenge on Callejon, but it is a very harsh one. The full-back slid in but got all of the ball and none of the player. Free kick in a good crossing position...
Gabbiadini swings it into the middle, but it is comfortably cleared by the Dnipro defence. Waste of a decent position for the visitors there.
Well, the match started brightly but it has fallen into a bit of a lull right now. Neither side has manufactured a good chance since Higuain was denied by Boyko as both teams continue to wrestle for control of this game.
YELLOW CARD! Gabbiadini becomes the second name in the book for a tackle from behind on Fedorchuk. Needless foul from the Napoli man, and he can have no complaints at seeing yellow.
SAVE! Good play from Ghoulam on the left as he picks the ball up and sends a fine cross into the box from a deep position. Higuain gets onto the end of it and flicks a good header towards the far post, but Boyko is there to deny him again, pushing the ball behind for a corner.
Higuain is already beginning to look a little frustrated at his failure to find a way past Boyko in this tie. His reaction to that latest save was simply to ask what more he could have done and, in truth, there wasn't much. It was a good effort, but Boyko was equal to it.
UPDATE: I think we can say with a good degree of certainty that the winners of this tie will be facing Sevilla in the final. If their semi-final with Fiorentina wasn't over after a 3-0 win in the first leg, it certainly is now. The Europa League holders now lead 5-0 on aggregate courtesy of a couple of first-half away goals.
CLOSE! Napoli's pressure has been growing over the last few minutes, but Dnipro almost hit them against the run of play. Lopez gave the ball away in a very dangerous area to set up Seleznyov for a shot, but his curling effort was tipped narrowly past the post. It was the slightest of touches from the keeper, but a very important one.
Gabbiadini goes to ground far too easily on the edge of the box, and he has to be careful with that having already been booked. It may have been a little harsh to show him a second yellow for that one, but it isn't the first time he has made a meal of something tonight.
Napoli have generally been on top in this half without offering too much of a threat beyond Higuain's sights of goal. Dnipro, meanwhile, have offered more going forward than in the first leg but overall have been lacking in the final third.
Decent chance for Dnipro as a deep free kick is played in to Kankava, who flicked a good header towards goal. It is straight at Andujar, though, and it wouldn't have counted anyway as the linesman's flag was raised.
The referee has been pretty busy in this first half. There haven't been any really nasty tackles, but the game has been broken up by a lot of niggly fouls that has prevented it from getting into any real rhythm.
YELLOW CARD! Fedetskiy is the latest name in the book for a challenge on Insigne, but there was little malice in it.
There will be two minutes of stoppage time at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 0-0 Napoli (1-1 on aggregate, Dnipro lead on away goals)
The first half of the second leg comes to an end, then, and it is still Dnipro who hold the narrowest of margins over Napoli. It wasn't the best half of football you will see this season, it must be said, but Dnipro will be very happy if it stays the same after 90 minutes. As things stand, they are into a first European final courtesy of away goals, and Napoli need to find a way through in the second half to change that.
There were chances in the first half, and the best of them - like in the first leg - fell to Higuain. The Argentine was played through by a fine Inler pass inside 10 minutes and only had Boyko to beat, but once again he came off second best to the Dnipro keeper. He went for power instead of placement and put his shot too close to Boyko, who made a really good save to keep the scores level.
Higuain had another decent opening later in the half when Ghoulam's cross from deep was flicked on towards the bottom far corner by the striker, only for Boyko to come out on top in their personal duel again. The keeper threw himself to his left to touch the clever header past the post, prompting an exasperated reaction from Higuain.
Dnipro have been more positive than they were in the first leg, but openings have been few and far between for the hosts. The best of the lot came through Seleznyov, whose goal is currently the difference in the tie, after Lopez had carelessly given the ball away. His curling effort from outside the box was on course to nestle into the bottom corner, but Andujar got a fingertip to it to turn it round the post.
There were a couple of early sights of goal at either end of the field too, with Higuain flicking a header over the top from a deep cross before Konoplyanka bent a free kick into the arms of the keeper. In general, though, the quality has been lacking in the final third so far and that will need to change for the visitors if they are to book their place in the final.
KICKOFF: Napoli get us back underway for the second half in Kiev. The visitors have 45 minutes to find a goal that would put them into the final of the Europa League.
Scrappy opening to the second half, much like the majority of the first. Napoli are looking to get on the front foot, but Dnipro's defence is standing firm.
CHANCE! Big chance for Dnipro to get one on the break. Seleznyov sprints through on goal but, despite having a yard on Britos, he cuts back and plays a pass across to Luchkevych. He also has space to pick out a shot, but flashes his effort a couple of yards wide of the far post.
Napoli need a moment of inspiration from somewhere. They have certainly had the chances to be home and dry in this tie, but right now they are looking a little short of ideas.
A couple of times in this match Seleznyov has gone into aerial challenges with his eyes planted firmly on the player rather than the ball. He has barged into his man, making no attempt to even look like he is competing for possession, but the referee has let it go. The Dnipro striker is fortunate to have got away with it so far.
SAVE! Brilliant from Konoplyanka as he dancing down the touchline, beating a couple of challenges before playing a pass inside for Seleznyov. The strikers cuts inside and gets his shot away, but it is straight at the keeper.
NAPOLI SUB: Gabbiadini hasn't really made the most of his rare starting chance tonight, and off he comes to be replaced by Marek Hamsik here.
Dnipro will be pretty happy with their start to this second half. They look relatively comfortable in containing Napoli at the moment and threatened a few times at the other end as well.
GOAL! Dnipro 1-0 Napoli (Yevhen Seleznyov)
Dnipro make the breakthrough to take an outright lead on aggregate! It is good work from Konoplyanka as he gets down the left again before standing a cross up into the middle. Seleznyov is surrounded by white shirts but somehow manages to get his head on it, putting it past a stranded Andujar. There was a hint of a foul against Albiol, but it looked to be six of one and half a dozen of the other in the tussle between him and Seleznyov. The keeper certainly should have done better.
In essence, that goal doesn't change Napoli's immediate task here tonight. They still need to score a goal, but one would only be enough for extra time now. They need two to go through in normal time.
NAPOLI SUB: The visitors make a change as they go in search of that away goal, with Dries Mertens replacing Insigne for the final half an hour or so.
Mertens looks to make an immediate impact as the smoke from flares in the stands engulfs the pitch. The Napoli sub goes for goal from range, but it is straight at the keeper.
SAVE! Ghoulam makes a good break down the left flank and reaches the byline before drilling a low cross in towards the back post, but again the Dnipro defence holds firm and deals with the danger. Moments later Mertens fires a dipping effort towards goal which Boyko shovels behind unconvincingly.
DNIPRO SUB: A first change for the hosts this evening as Matheus is introduced in place of Luchkevych.
SHOT! Dnipro are caught out with a short corner that allows Mertens to improve his angle and lash a powerful effort towards goal. Boyko doesn't look entirely confident as to where it is going, but it ends up flashing a few yards past his far post.
YELLOW CARD! Seleznyov goes into the book for a raised foot against Lopez, catching the midfielder in the ribs. No complaints with that one.
Napoli have less than 20 minutes to find at least one goal here or else they will be out of the Europa League. Mertens has made a difference since coming on, but once again they have not been good enough in the final third so far this evening.
SAVE! Lopez scored in the first leg and he looks to double his tally for his Napoli career here as the ball breaks to him around 25 yards from goal. He looks to bend one into the bottom corner, but it is a fairly routine stop for Boyko down low to his right.
YELLOW CARD! Kankava is the latest name in the book, as much for a totting-up process than the foul itself.
DNIPRO SUB: Another change for the hosts and off goes goalscorer Seleznyov to be replaced by Nikola Kalinic.
OFF THE LINE! Napoli are getting closer! Yet again it is Higuain as an attempted volley doesn't come off but still falls kindly for the striker, who lifts the ball over the keeper and underneath the crossbar. It is more a cross than a shot, but Douglas still has to clear it off the line. The danger has not passed, though, and moments later the ball is nodded narrowly wide.
NAPOLI SUB: A third and final change for the visitors as Henrique comes on to replace Lopez for the final 11 minutes, plus any added time.
It is one-way traffic at the moment. Inler lifts a fine pass over the top for Callejon to race on to, and he plays a first-time low cross into the middle that Cheberyachko turns into the arms of his own keeper.
YELLOW CARD! Once again the referee goes to his book as Ghoulam joins the ever-growing list of players to be shown a yellow card.
Napoli are beginning to throw caution to the wind a bit here. They are committing more men forward now, and Dnipro may get a chance to hit the Italians on the break in the closing stages. Their first priority right now is to defend, though.
YELLOW CARD! Another card, this time for Matheus, who put in a late challenge on Ghoulam down the left flank.
DNIPRO SUB: Dnipro make their third change of the match and Konoplyanka, who has been much more involved tonight than he was a week ago, trudges off to be replaced by Bruno Gama. He takes too long for Callejon, who runs over and pushes the departing winger, earning a yellow card for his troubles.
Napoli players are queuing up now! Callejon and Maggio both go for the same ball down the left channel and it is the latter who eventually gets to it, but his low cross is cut out before it can reach Higuain at the back post.
CHANCES! I said Dnipro may get chances on the break, and here they are. After a spell of heavy Napoli pressure Kalinic leads a counter-charge, beating his man before drawing a low save from Andujar. The ball falls back to the striker, but again the Napoli keeper comes to the rescue by thwarting Kalinic's rebound. Matheus then has another effort moments later, but once more Andujar is there to keep it out.
There will be FIVE minutes of added time at the end of this match! Can Napoli force extra time with a late goal?
OFF THE BAR! Oh my word, Dnipro are inches away from putting this one to bed once and for all! Napoli go to sleep from a free kick as the ball is floated into the box, with Matheus being afforded the freedom of the area. Andujar is again in no-man's land as Matheus loops a header over him, but it comes agonisingly off the crossbar. How big could that prove to be?
This is last-chance saloon for Napoli now. Dnipro are one minute away from the first European final in their history, but the visitors are applying the late pressure!
YELLOW CARD! Boyko picks up a late yellow card for taking too much time over a goal kick.
FULL TIME: Dnipro 1-0 Napoli (Dnipro win 2-1 on aggregate)
History for Dnipro as they reach the final of a European competition for the first time ever. It is the narrowest of the victories for the Ukrainian side, but they held out to knock favourites Napoli out of the competition and advance to face holders Sevilla in the final. That will take place in Warsaw on May 27, a date every Dnipro fan will be scribbling in their diaries right about now - or at least after they have stopped invading the pitch!
The decisive goals in the tie both came from Seleznyov, with his late equaliser in the first leg giving Dnipro a slight advantage going into tonight's game and another in Kiev completing the job. This time it was a header that did the damage as he held off his man before nodding past Andujar, while it could have been even worse for Napoli when Matheus hit the bar late on. Napoli had their chances too, though, and over both legs will be wondering quite how they have failed to reach the final.
That is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's historic semi-final second leg as Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk book their place in the final of the Europa League at Napoli's expense. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction, analysis and player ratings. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
