Rangers run of Champions League defeats continues with 3-0 loss to Napoli

Rangers suffered their fifth defeat in five Champions League group games as they were beaten 3-0 by Naples in Italy.

The result all but ends the team’s slim hopes of booking a place in the Europa League, with Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side needing to beat Ajax by more than four goals in Amsterdam next week to progress.

Napoli, currently top of Serie A, went into the game on the back of 11 consecutive wins and Luciano Spalletti’s side played with the confidence of a side who are enjoying a memorable season.

The hosts took the lead after just 11 minutes in Stadio Diego Maradona, when Giovanni di Lorenzo whipped in a cross that Giovanni Simeone collected with ease. The forward set himself and smashed a right-foot shot past Allan McGregor from an angle to put his side ahead.

Five minutes later, Simeone had his second goal. Mario Rui found space on the left to play in an inviting cross and Simeone rose between two Rangers defenders to thump a header into the net.

After enduring some heavy defeats in the competition, Rangers could have been fearing the worst when Tanguy Ndombele crashed a shot against the bar minutes later but the deluge didn’t come, though Napoli kept the lion’s share of possession.

Chances for Rangers were rare but Alfredo Morelos managed to evade his marker to try his luck with a volley, and the Colobian striker also missed what looked like a sure thing at the back post after a Ridvan Yilmaz cross.

The Italian side remained in control but didn’t add to the scoreline until ten minutes from time. Leo Ostigard got free at a corner and placed his header past McGregor.