Chelsea secured its place in the Champions League Round of 16 this Wednesday with a stellar performance from Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro, authors of two assists and two goals that redirected the path of Rosenior's men and, in the process, eliminated Antonio Conte's Napoli (2-3).

Cole Palmer came onto the pitch at halftime. He only needed 45 minutes to connect twice with Joao Pedro and complete the comeback in Naples. Two great goals from the Brazilian. The results played in their favor, and they will not have to play the 'play-off'. Napoli dreamed of entering among the top 24. They deserved it for many minutes. But they could not contain the English side, superior in the end against their former manager. They could not work the miracle in the injury emergency they are going through.

With a bench made up of Miguel Gutierrez, Beukema, and a Lukaku with 11 minutes in his legs all season. Faced with the giant challenge of defeating a Chelsea with aspirations for high achievements. That is how Napoli presented itself for the decisive matchday in which a large part of the season was at stake, a season also marked by a too-poor group stage. A loss meant elimination, a victory meant qualification. The Diego Armando Maradona Stadium gave itself completely to the cause. It was not enough.

It could not have started worse for the Italians, nor better for the English. A very open hand from Juan Jesus while acting as a wall resulted in a penalty. Enzo Fernandez did not miss from the eleven-meter spot. Under all the pressure, the Argentine found concentration, aimed for Meret's right post, and virtually placed Chelsea in the round of 16 at 20 minutes into the match.

Napoli seemed defeated. Almost without resources on the bench, plagued by injuries, and trailing on the scoreboard again. But in Maradona's house, there is always room for epic moments. And in just 10 minutes, between the 33' and the 43', Antonio Conte's men were able to turn the scoreline around to go into halftime leading.

Di Lorenzo warned the Blues with a shot from inside the area, but Robert Sanchez responded safely, blocking the shot well. The Spanish goalkeeper could not, however, deflect the first great goal of the night. The one by Antonio Vergara, a homegrown Napoli player who played in Serie B last season. In the emergency, he has become Conte's unexpected solution. He performed a pirouette with only one foot inside the area and crossed it perfectly to evade Sanchez's hand. A great goal, and the match was open.

The Italians grew in confidence. Doubts increased in the Blue defense, increasingly weaker, more fragile. And just before halftime, Olivera reached the byline, sent a low cross to the near post, and Hojlund, an old acquaintance from the Premier League, fired point-blank to complete the comeback. The first one in the battle.

Liam Rosenior wanted to turn the match around. He introduced his best player, Cole Palmer, at halftime, available after missing two games. And he changed the game. It was he who played the ball to Joao Pedro in the attacking third. Between the lines. Making what is complex look simple again. And the Brazilian took care of the rest. He planted himself on the edge of the box, unleashed a left-footed shot straight into the top corner, and tied the game at the hour mark.

And, of course, his was the pass that decided the match. In midfield. Subtle, with his left foot. Into space. Joao Pedro found it on the run, planted himself in the area, and, with time to think, beat Meret to make it 2-3 on the scoreboard. Chelsea, to the round of 16. Napoli, which dreamed of qualification for the 'play-off', was eliminated after an insufficient group stage and sent off with an ovation from its fans.

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