Napoli defeated Arsenal 2:0 in the sixth and final matchday, but a three way tie at the top of the standings saw Napoli finish third behind Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal.

Goran Pandev started in attacking midfield for Napoli and played until the 57th minute when he was substitute by Lorenzo Insigne.  Pandev attempted a single shot on goal in the 9th minute that lacked much power and was comfortably saved by the Arsenal keeper.  Napoli eventually scored its two goals in the 73rd and 90th minute to down Arsenal, but they needed another goal to have progressed to the next round of the Champions League.

Napoli, Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund each collected 12 points from its six games, beating up on winless Marseille.  However, Napoli was unlucky as they came on the short end of the head to head goal difference against Borussia Dortmund and the overall goal difference against Arsenal (since their head to head goal difference was tied at 2:2).

Borussia Dortmund narrowly edged Napoli 5:4 in head to head goal difference.  Dortmund won 3:1 at home in Germany, while Napoli prevailed 3:2 at their home venue in Italy.

Meanwhile, Arsenal and Napoli each won their home games 2:0 against one another.  So, since the first tiebreaker (head to head goal difference) was tied at 2:2, the next tiebreaker is overall goal difference from the six games and Arsenal (+3) came on top in that category over Napoli (+1).

With Napoli finishing in third place, they will be moved over to the Europa League Round of 32.  Napoli has the talent to win that competition, but the main question will be motivation and hunger since the Europa League does not carry the same prestige as the Champions League.  In addition, most of Napoli’s top acquisitions prior to the season were accustomed to mainly Champions League football, so it remains to be seen how seriously they will take the Europa League.  Napoli will learn their opponents for the Europa League Round of 32 this upcoming Monday on 16 December.

Pandev is the lone Macedonian player who is still alive, with his respective team, in either the Champions League or Europa League competitions.