Marek Hamsik gave Napoli the Intertoto trophy and a place in the UEFA Cup by beating Panionios 2-0 on aggregate.

They go through to the UEFA Cup second qualifying round after 14 years away from this tournament.

Edy Reja’s men could boast a 1-0 lead from the first leg in Athens and the Stadio San Paolo welcomed 55,000 fans for this Intertoto Cup R3 tie. Leandro Rinaudo was suspended, so Matteo Contini and Grava joined Paolo Cannavaro in defence.

Napoli dominated the midfield in the first half, but couldn’t find the breakthrough as Marek Hamsik’s effort whistled wide and Mariano Bogliacino failed to convert Cannavaro’s assist.

There was a real scare on 28 minutes, as Lampros Choutos – a former Inter player – thumped the upright from point-blank range when he was quickest to react to a loose ball.

Kresic rushed out to close down Christian Maggio’s counter-attack and again to deny Bogliacino’s acrobatic attempt.

Bogliacino skimmed the woodwork from 20 metres, although Choutos was a constant danger. It was therefore quite a relief for the Napoli defenders when Choutos was stretchered off with a shoulder injury following an awkward fall.

Bogliacino, who had scored the winner in Athens, also went off with a suspected sprained ankle.

The San Paolo erupted on 64 minutes, as Hamsik grabbed a crucial goal to break the deadlock. Substitute Inacio Pia’s cross from the left was knocked down by German Denis for the Slovak to smash in from close range.

Denis made his San Paolo debut, yet is already a hero to the fans, who cheered his every move. The Argentine was hauled down before he could go clear on goal, while Pià and Michele Pazienza threatened a second.

Goalkeeper Gennaro Iezzo also got his fair share of the limelight late on with a crucial save on Kontis.

The Azzurri win 1-0 on the night, 2-0 on aggregate, to reach the UEFA Cup second qualifying round, which will be played on August 14 and 28.

There is another two-legged round after that on September 18 and October 2 in order to qualify for the group phase.

Napoli 1-0 Panionios (2-0 on agg)
Scorers: Hamsik 64 (N)
Napoli: Iezzo; Grava, Cannavaro, Contini; Maggio, Blasi, Gargano, Hamsik (Pazienza 75), Vitale; Bogliacino (Pià 58), Denis (De Zerbi 88)
Panionios: Kresic; Maniatis, Langkamp, Majstrovic, Koutsopoulos (Kapetanos 80); Tzavellas, Kumortzi, Nikolau, Kiliaras; Choutos (Dalura 55), D’Acol (Kontis 72)
Ref: Muniz Fernandez (Spa)

Ref From channel4.com

Edy Reja is intensely proud to have taken Napoli from Serie C into Europe as today they encounter Panionios for the Intertoto Cup.

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At 17.00 UK time the Third Round tie kicks off in Greece and the decider is at the San Paolo next Saturday evening.

“We do feel nervous, but the real emotion will pour out when we step on to the field,” said the Coach.

“There is reason to feel proud, as two and a half years ago we were in Serie C, now we are challenging for a place on the European stage.

“I am happy for Napoli, the city and all its fans. If we are here today then it is thanks to President Aurelio De Laurentiis and everyone at the club.”

The Azzurri went bankrupt and were knocked down to Serie C with new owners, but Reja has been at the helm to guide them back up to the focus of Italian football.

“I remember coming to Napoli in a very difficult situation. The club was taking its first steps and we are now well ahead of schedule.

“It really feels strange to think back on that now. Personally I consider it a moral victory for all the hard work we’ve done in these years.”

Their opponents tonight in Athens will be Greek side Panionios and Reja has no intention of playing a cagey match.

“They are a dangerous team who are strong on home turf. They beat OFK Belgrade 3-1 here in the last round, but could easily have scored five,” continued the Coach.

“It will be very hot and Panionios want to make their mark against a prestigious side like Napoli. We have to be balanced and also ready to strike at the right moment. To wait and play it all in the second leg would be tactical suicide.”

It is Napoli’s first European game since a 1-0 UEFA Cup defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt on December 7, 1994.

Ref From channel4.com

Aston Villa face a tricky second leg next week after they could only manage a 2-2 draw with Danish outfit Odense BK in Scandinavia.

Odense, who finished fourth in the Danish Super League last season, struck in the last minute to deny Martin O’Neil’s men an important Inter-toto Cup victory, meaning that the tie still hangs in the balance ahead of next week’s second leg.

The Villains, who fielded their strongest side minus captain Gareth Barry, had the better of the early exchanges and took just six minutes to get off the mark after Ashley Young set-up Norwegian striker John Carew.

But the hosts continued to provide stern opposition to the Premier League side and got their just rewards after 25 minutes when they levelled matters after new signing Steven Sidwell put the ball through his own net.

The game was surprisingly open considering the stakes, and both sides squandered great chances to take the lead. However it was not until the 76th minute that England international Young provided his second assist of the match as defender Martin Laursen powered in a header from his free-kick.

And last season’s sixth placed team Villa looked to be professionally marshalling the game towards a victory that would have given them control of the tie, but were denied when Anders Christensen tapped the ball home with just moments to spare.

The second leg will take place on July 26 at Villa Park, with the winners moving a step closer to the main draw of the UEFA Cup.

Ref From Chris Myson, Goal.com