Europa League: Napoli honor Maradona with win, four teams into last 32

A screen displays a photo of late Diego Maradona as players hold a minute of silence in homage to the Argentine football legend prior to the UEFA Europe League Group F match between Napoli and Rijeka at Stadio San Paolo in Naples, Italy, November 26, 2020. /CFP

Italian side Napoli honored the memory of Diego Maradona with a 2-0 win over Croatian club Rijeka that sent them top of the Europa League Group F in the first match since the death of their Argentine icon.

The Napoli squad entered the field all wearing the symbolic No. 10 jersey of Maradona, who helped Napoli win their only Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990 as well as the 1989 UEFA Cup, the Europa League equivalent of the day.

"Diego is a legend and will never die," said coach Gennaro Gattuso after the match.

"Since yesterday you could see that the city breathed a different atmosphere.

The big screen shows an image in memory of late Diego Maradona during the UEFA Europa League Group F match between Napoli and Rijeka at Stadio San Paolo in Naples, Italy, November 26, 2020. /CFP

"We hope to dedicate something important to him and win a trophy.

"In this city, we have talked about it for too many years."

Napoli made sure the fans gathered outside to pay their respects to Maradona weren't disappointed by the current team as an Armando Anastasio own goal and a simple Hirving Lozano finish sealed the points.

Reiss Nelson (L) celebrates scoring Arsenal's 2nd goal with Joe Willock during the UEFA Europa League Group B match in Molde, Norway, November 26, 2020. /CFP

Liberec's Jan Mikula (L) and Hoffenheim's Maximilian Baier vie for the ball during the UEFA Europa League Group L match in Liberec, Czech Republic, November 26, 2020. /CFP

Jamie Vardy of Leicester City celebrates scoring the 3-3 leveler against Braga during the UEFA Europa League Group G match in Braga, Portugal, November 26, 2020. /CFP

Wesley Fofana of Leicester City (L) challenges for the high ball with Galeno of Braga during the UEFA Europa League Group G match in Braga, Portugal, November 26, 2020. /CFP

Players in action as the field that's barely visible in the thick fog during the UEFA Europa League Group A match between Roma and Cluj in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, November 26, 2020. /CFP

Arsenal, Hoffenheim, Leicester, and Roma are the first four teams through to the Europa League round of 32.

Jamie Vardy's last-gasp leveler in a thrilling 3-3 at Braga sent Leicester City through to the knockout rounds, where they were also joined by Arsenal thanks to their 3-0 win at Molde.

Italian side Roma made their way into the last 32 with a 2-0 win at Romanian club Cluj on a field that was barely visible due to thick fog, while Germain side Hoffenheim joined them with a 2-0 victory over the Czech league's Liberec.

Tottenham Hotspur are level on nine points with Group J leaders Royal Antwerp after a 4-0 thumping of bottom side Ludogorets of Bulgaria, who are yet to pick up a single point.

(With input from AFP)