Walter Mazzarri's men had the brighter start of the two sides, and broke the deadlock on 18 minutes when Peter van Ooijen made a horrific mistake in playing Edinson Cavani into his own penalty area for the Uruguayan to calmly stroke home. Napoli's lead did not persist for long, however, as second-string keeper Antonio Rosati spilled a van Ooijen curler from distance directly into the path of Tim Matavz for an easy tap-in. 10 minutes later, the Dutch side lept out in front on almost an exact carbon copy of the first goal, as Rosati again fumbled his attempted catch of a Jeremain Lens effort from 18 yards to gift Matavz a facile brace on the day.
Goran Pandev was introduced on 57 minutes to provide some extra offensive firepower for the home side, but it was Matavz who would complete his hat-trick soon after with a right-footed finish from the centre of the area following a swift counterattack.
Roberto Insigne, the younger brother of sensational Lorenzo, received his Napoli debut when he came on for Edinson Cavani and nearly scored right off with a left-footer from close range.
Napoli committed a series of criminally comedic misses as time wound down, with Pandev, El Kaddouri, and Insigne all spurning golden opportunities to bring their side back into the match.
With the loss, the Partenopei finish second in group F on 9 points, 6 behind leaders Dnipro.
Man of the Match: Tim Matavz, PSV (3 goals)
Udinese 0-1 Liverpool
The visitors were forced into a substitution just 12 minutes into the match, as an accidental elbow from Mathias Ranegie caused Nuri Sahin to bleed profusely from the nose and require a withdrawal for Jonjo Shelvey.
Diego Fabbrini was booked early on for a crunching tackle, whilst Udinese nearly took the lead on a cross-cum-shot by Roberto Pereyra, but Pepe Reina was on hand to make an athletic fingertip save to preserve the stalemate. On 23 minutes however, it was Liverpool who jumped out in front as Jordan Henderson smashed an angled drive past Daniele Padelli from a Suso assist. Soon after, Glen Johnson netted a second for the Reds, but Stewart Downing was flagged for being offside in the build-up. Just before half, a Luis Suarez bicycle-kick required a flying save from Padelli to maintain the scoreline.
Mehdi Benatia came on to start the second period for Udinese, but exited just 20 minutes later due to injury as the Friuli held out against numerous assaults by the pacy Luis Suarez. 17 year-old Max Reinthaler came on to replace the Moroccan stalwart in his first ever appearance for the Zebrette.
Francesco Guidolin's men strove to equalize, but a Ranegie header and an Emanuel Badu drive from distance failed to hit the mark.
Giovanni Pasquale received his marching orders on 79 minutes for a second yellow card as Liverpool looked to close out the match with elusive passing.
Substitute and talismanic captain Antonio Di Natale nearly crashed Liverpool out of the Europa League with the last kick of the match, but blazed just over the bar on the counter to invite the final whistle and signal the end of Udinese's continental adventure.
Man of the Match: Danilo, Udinese (100% aerials; 5 tackles)
Inter 2-2 Neftci Baku
Andrea Stramaccioni fielded a lineup consisting mainly of youngsters, with 6 of Inter's 11 starters age 20 years or less. Nonetheless, the Nerazzurri jumped out to an early lead when Marko Livaja slotted home from close range after the Neftci defense failed to clear an Alvaro Pereira cross.
Inter allowed the visitors to maintain the majority of possession, instead waiting patiently to create opportunities on the break whilst the opposition made hard work of finding space in the offensive third. Walter Samuel whipped a header just past the far post from a Philippe Coutinho free-kick and Luca Garritano opted for a bold volleyed attempt soon after, but was unable to hit the back of the net.
Antonio Cassano came on at half for Samuel as the Milanese giants transitioned to three at the back, but were surprisingly caught out when Rasad Sadiqov rifled in the equalizer from distance on 52 minutes.
Parity did not last long, however, as 2 minutes later Marko Livaja headed the Nerazzurri back on top from a cross from substitute Yuto Nagatomo. On 73 minutes, the Croatian teenager could've completed a hat-trick, but shot straight into a Neftci defender on the goal line from two yards with the goalkeeper nowhere to be found.
Late in the day, Inter appeared to be denied a clear penalty when Cassano was brought down in the area, whilst Nagatomo cracked a screamer off of the bar from long range.
At the other end, the Azerbaijanis equalized against all odds, as Vid Belec parried a Bruno Bertucci shot into the path of Nicolas Canales, who headed into an empty net to earn a famous point for the minnows.
With the draw, Inter finish second in group H with 11 points.
Man of the Match: Rasad Sadiqov, Neftci (94% passing; 100% aerials; 5 tackles; 1 goal)
Maribor 1-4 Lazio
Vladimir Petkovic's side ran out in a previously unseen 3-4-3 formation with the absence of Miroslav Klose, while Lorik Cana slotted into the defense in place of Giuseppe Biava. After a cagey opening quarter-hour, the visitors snatched the lead on 16 minutes via a beautiful lob from Libor Kozak after the Czech sprung the offside trap. Lazio doubled their advantage through Stephan Radu's header at the near post from a Hernanes corner. Soon after, it was 3-0 as Sergio Floccari smashed past Jasmin Handanovic inside the far post when Ederson played an intelligent ball to feed the Italian.
The action continued as Senad Lulic was denied a certain goal by a brave Ales Mertelj block, whilst Maribor registered their first shot of the day after a defensive error from Radu. Just before half, Goran Cvijanovic nearly got the Slovenians on the scoreboard with a cracking volley from a lackluster Albano Bizzari punch, but the sizzling effort banged off of the crossbar.
Following the restart, the Biancocelesti found a fourth as Floccari completed his brace with a precision effort into the top left corner from distance.
Lazio began to sit back, preferring to wait for counter attacking opportunities with such a large lead, but Maribor still struggled to maintain possession and create clear-cut chances.
On 84 minutes, the Slovenians finally grabbed a consolation as Marcos Tavares cruised past Michael Ciani and hit an angled drive past Bizarri at the far post.
The cracking victory sees Lazio win group J in unbeaten style with 12 points.
Man of the Match: Sergio Floccari, Lazio (2 goals)
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