Match ends, Swansea City 0, Napoli 0.
SwanseaSwansea City0NapoliNapoli0
Swansea City were denied victory by fine goalkeeping as they were held to a goalless draw by Napoli in the round of 32 first leg.
The home side impressed in an entertaining first half with visiting keeper Rafael Cabral denying Wilfried Bony, Wayne Routledge and Angel Rangel.
Swansea deserved a goal but the injured Rafael's replacement Pepe Reina also denied Ashley Williams and Routledge.
The second leg takes place next Thursday in Italy.
Swansea head coach Garry Monk, in charge for only his fourth match since replacing Michael Laudrup, described the game as the biggest test of his fledgling coaching career.
Monk was up against the experienced Rafael Benitez, who led Chelsea to Europa League success last season having previously managed Valencia to a Uefa Cup win in 2004.
The Italians looked dangerous early on when Jose Callejon dragged his effort wide of Michel Vorm's post within the opening three minutes.
Vorm denied Marek Hamsik before opposite number Rafael made an equally good save to deny Nathan Dyer in what was a frenetic start to the game.
Bony unleashed a shot from the edge of the area but his effort flew wide of the post and Dyer's cross from the right eluded the Ivorian.
Swansea were playing with confidence and purpose, encapsulated by a move in which their top-scorer Bony came close to breaking the deadlock.
Pablo Hernandez threaded a pinpoint pass to the feet of the striker, who took too much time on the ball which allowed Rafael to make the save.
There was no respite for the Napoli defence with Jose Canas firing over the crossbar and the unmarked Williams heading over following Hernandez's corner.
Keeper Rafael was kept busy, getting a fingertip to Routledge's long-range drive before tipping full-back Rangel's header over the bar from the resulting corner.
Brazilian Rafael did not reappear for the second half after picking up an injury and he was replaced by on-loan Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina.
Napoli made a promising start with Gonzalo Higuain cleverly played in by Callejon but Vorm came off his line quickly and the Argentine striker fired over the bar.
Callejon got the better of Ben Davies before unleashing a curling effort wide of the post but the second half was not played at the same high tempo of the first 45 minutes.
Swansea had offered little in the second half until captain Williams' powerful header from substitute Jonathan de Guzman's excellent delivery was beaten away by Reina.
De Guzman wasted a free-kick from a promising position, firing over the crossbar, before Reina palmed away Routledge's curling shot as Swansea stepped up the pressure.
Another chance went begging as the game entered the final six minutes, the unmarked Chico Flores heading straight at Reina after connecting with De Guzman's free-kick.
Swansea's efforts deserved a goal but their performance against the side currently third in Serie A will have given them confidence ahead of next Thursday's daunting second leg in Naples.
Line-ups
Swansea
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Vorm
- 22Rangel
- 33Davies
- 7Britton
- 4Flores Moreno
- 6Williams
- 12DyerSubstituted forEmnesat 79'minutes
- 21Cañas Ruiz HerreraSubstituted forShelveyat 71'minutes
- 10Bony
- 11HernándezBooked at 56minsSubstituted forDe Guzmánat 56'minutesBooked at 84mins
- 15Routledge
Substitutes
- 2Amat
- 3Taylor
- 8Shelvey
- 20De Guzmán
- 25Tremmel
- 54Ngog
- 57Emnes
Napoli
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1BarbosaSubstituted forReinaat 45'minutes
- 11MaggioBooked at 71mins
- 2Réveillere
- 88Inler
- 4Adriano Buss
- 5Britos
- 7Callejón
- 20Dzemaili
- 9HiguaÃnSubstituted forPandevat 84'minutes
- 17HamsikBooked at 72mins
- 24InsigneBooked at 59minsSubstituted forMertensat 74'minutes
Substitutes
- 14Mertens
- 19Pandev
- 25Reina
- 31Ghoulam
- 33Albiol
- 85Behrami
- 91Zapata
- Referee:
- Ivan Bebek
Match Stats
Home TeamSwanseaAway TeamNapoli
- Possession
- Home69%
- Away31%
- Shots
- Home21
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away1
- Corners
- Home8
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Swansea City 0, Napoli 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Dries Mertens (Napoli) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Christian Maggio with a cross.
Post update
Foul by Ben Davies (Swansea City).
Post update
Dries Mertens (Napoli) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Wilfried Bony (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Henrique (Napoli).
Post update
Hand ball by Wilfried Bony (Swansea City).
Post update
Marvin Emnes (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Anthony Réveillere (Napoli).
Post update
Corner, Napoli. Conceded by Ashley Williams.
Booking
Jonathan De Guzmán (Swansea City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Jonathan De Guzmán (Swansea City).
Post update
José Callejón (Napoli) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Chico (Swansea City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Jonathan De Guzmán.
Substitution
Substitution, Napoli. Goran Pandev replaces Gonzalo HiguaÃn.
Post update
Wilfried Bony (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Gökhan Inler (Napoli).
Post update
Attempt missed. Wilfried Bony (Swansea City) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Swansea City. Marvin Emnes replaces Nathan Dyer because of an injury.
