Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen was on target on his return from injury as Napoli defeated Ajax 4-2 at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples.
It was inevitable that Napoli would secure their ticket to the next round, while Ajax was banking on themselves to produce a better performance than they did when Napoli humiliated them 6-1 at the Johan Cruijff Arena.
Six goals were scored and they started raining as early as the 4th minute of action.
A fine one-two pass between Piotr Zielinski and Hirving Lozano saw the Mexican duly dispatched to put Napoli ahead.
And just over ten minutes after, Giacomo Raspadori doubled the lead for Napoli as he sent a rocket flying into the top left corner from close range.
Napoli took the Advantage into the Break, but it was Ajax that seemed rejuvenated, Calvin Bassey sent a clever lofted ball behind the Napoli defence spotting the run of Davy Klaasen who only had to direct his header home to halve the deficit, immediately after the goal Luciano Spalletti brought on Victor Osimhen in the 50th minute for Giacomo Raspadori.
The next goal came from a VAR intervention as Napoli won a penalty from a handball in the box, the referee had initially waved play on.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia stepped up to coolly convert and maintain the two-goal margin.
In the 82nd minute Ajax also benefitted from a VAR decision after Felix Zwayer won a penalty off Juan Jesus. Steven Bergwijn stepped up and converted to put Ajax within one goal off Napoli.
Victor Osimhen, who earlier had a goal ruled out for Napoli eventually extended the home side’s lead.
He stole the pockets of Daley Blind in the 89th minute and marked his return from injury with a goal.
Ajax now sit third on three points behind Liverpool and Napoli who both have guaranteed passage to the round of 16.
