Napoli 3-0 Rangers: Simeone strikes twice to heap further pressure on Van Bronckhorst

Rangers’ slim hopes of playing Europa League football in the new year are all but over following a 3-0 defeat to Napoli in Naples, heaping further pressure upon Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

The Scottish side needed a result and a favour from Liverpool against Ajax to retain a realistic chance of finishing third, and while Jurgen Klopp’s side did their part, Rangers were swept aside by the Serie A leaders.

Napoli took the lead after just 11 minutes, Giovanni Simeone rifling home after Giovanni Di Lorenzo teed him up, and the forward was on the scoresheet again five minutes later as he tucked home Mario Rui’s cross.

Tanguy Ndombele’s fierce strike from outside the box clattered off the bar before the break, while the second half saw Alfredo Morelos fail to connect from close range in the visitors’ best chance of the game.

Any hope of a late comeback was crushed 10 minutes from the final whistle when Leo Ostigard was left unmarked and headed home Giacomo Raspadori’s corner.

With Rangers three points behind Ajax and having lost their first meeting 4-0, Van Bronckhorst’s side need a remarkable result in Amsterdam next week to clinch third place and Europa League football.

FULL-TIME: Napoli 3-0 Rangers#UCL pic.twitter.com/CWWQBOZ7V7

— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) October 26, 2022