Champions League round-up: Napoli beaten by Benfica while Ajax have lift-off

Serie A holders Napoli’s tough time in this season’s Champions League goes on as they were beaten 2-0 by Benfica on Wednesday evening.

Antonio Conte’s side are in danger of falling out of the top 24 places that would see them progress to the playoff round as goals from Richard Rios and Leandro Barreiro secured a vital win for Benfica in Lisbon.

Napoli are currently in 23rd place, while the Portuguese club are now two places and just a point behind them with two matches remaining.

Meanwhile, Ajax secured their first points of the campaign with a 4-2 victory over Qarabag in Azerbaijan.

Camilo Duran gave the hosts a 10th minute lead before Kasper Dolberg levelled things up shortly before half-time.

Matheus Silva restored Qarabag’s advantage two minutes after the restart but three goals in 11 second-half minutes courtesy of an Oscar Gloukh brace and Anton Gaaei gave the visitors a much-needed win to move them off the foot of the table.

Elsewhere, it was a largely positive evening for the English sides, with Arsenal all but confirming their place in the next round with victory in Belgium to maintain their unbeaten run in this season’s competition.

Manchester City overcame Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, while Newcastle were denied a win in Germany by a late equaliser. Holders Paris Saint-Germain were held to a goalless stalemate in Spain.

For another Spanish side, it was an evening to forget as a 90th minute winner from Andreas Cornelius saw Copenhagen run out 3-2 victors over LaLiga title contenders Villarreal.

Mohamed Elyounoussi opened the scoring for the Danish side after two minutes before Santi Comesana drew the Yellow Submarine level after the break.

Copenhagen hit back immediately through Elias Achouri only for the hosts to again equalised thanks to Tani Oluwaseyi.

But Cornelius would have the last say, netting late on to move Copenhagen into the playoff spots.

In Turin, Juventus avoided an upset as they ran out winners over plucky Pafos, with Weston McKennie and Jonathan David securing a 2-0 victory for the Old Lady to strengthen their playoff credentials.

Borussia Dortmund were denied all three points despite twice leading against winless Bodo/Glimt at Signal Iduna Park.

Julian Brandt scored twice but on both occasions the goals were cancelled out by Haitam Aleesami and Jens Hauge.

The result keeps Dortmund’s top-eight aspirations very much a possibility, while Bodo’s faint hopes of finishing in the top 24 are only just alive.

Here is the full list of Wednesday Champions League results:

Villarreal 2-3 Copenhagen

Qarabag 2-4 Ajax

Leverkusen 2-2 Newcastle

Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City

Benfica 2-0 Napoli

Club Brugge 0-3 Arsenal

Athletic Club 0-0 Paris Saint-Germain

Juventus 2-0 Pafos

Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Bodo/Glimt