McTominay Scores Twice in Napoli's 4-3 Win Over Bodø/Glimt to Set Scottish Champions League Record
Scott McTominay scored twice as Napoli beat Bodø/Glimt 4-3 in the Champions League at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Tuesday, October 20. The two goals took him to seven Champions League goals. That is the most by any Scottish player in the history of the competition. Kenny Miller is next on five.
They were McTominay's first goals since a heart operation. He had a procedure in September to correct a mild, benign arrhythmia. He returned to action earlier this month, and this was only his second start since the comeback. They were also his first goals of the season.
Napoli took the lead after just 54 seconds. Matteo Politano scored the fastest goal in the club's Champions League history. Jens Petter Hauge equalised for the Norwegian side in the 27th minute. Four minutes before half-time, McTominay put Napoli back in front. He ran into the box, collected a pass from Kevin De Bruyne and sent a deflected shot past goalkeeper Nikita Haikin. It was 2-1.
McTominay hit the post in the 60th minute, and Bodø/Glimt levelled again in the 62nd minute through Andreas Helmersen. McTominay was not to be denied. In the 75th minute, he rose high to head home a cross from Politano. That put Napoli 3-2 up. Odin Bjørtuft then put through his own net to make it 4-2. Sondre Fet gave the visitors hope with a goal in stoppage time, but Napoli held on.
The win gave coach Massimiliano Allegri his first Champions League victory with the club. It ended a five-game winless run in the competition, with one draw and four defeats. Napoli had lost to Arsenal and Villarreal in their previous two Champions League games. It was also the first time in 25 games that Napoli scored four goals in a Champions League match. The last time was a 4-2 win over Ajax in October 2022.
The result eased the pressure on Allegri. Napoli had also lost three of their first seven Serie A games. The win moves the team into the play-off places in the league phase.