Elif Elmas double sends Napoli through to play-off as Leicester City drop into Europa Conference League

Eljif Elmas scored twice as Napoli edged out Leicester City in a high-octane game to top group C and qualify for the round of 16.

Adam Ounas' low drive broke the deadlock for the hosts in the fourth minute - just seconds after Leicester squandered a gilt-edged chance to open the scoring themselves.

Leicester poured forward in search of an equaliser but were hit with a 23rd minute sucker punch when Elmas finished from close-range.

Brendan Rodgers side reduced the arrears in the 27th minute when Jonny Evans lashed his effort home and six-minutes later academy graduate Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall brilliantly volleyed home the leveller from the edge of the box.

The Foxes were caught napping early in the second half when Elmas notched his second of the evening to put Luciano Spalletti's men back in front.

Despite the introduction of Patson Daka, Leicester were unable to find an equaliser and Napoli held on for a deserved win to ensure qualification for the round of 16 in March whilst Brendan Rodgers side will contest the Europa Conference as a result of their third place finish in the group.

If there was a match to sum up Leicester City's season then this was it. Dangerous in attack, defensively naïve and conceding goals far too easily.

The same can be said of their Premier League form and it is an issue that Brendan Rodgers is struggling to find a solution for.

Leicester's Europa League group was a winnable one but with just one home win during the campaign, the Foxes have paid the price and now face a Europa Conference League play-off in February.

Whilst the season is far from over, Leicester must regroup and plug the holes in their leaky defence if they are going to avoid the season petering out.

A positive for Rodgers is that Leicester are creating a host of chances and he will hope that his side can capitalise on that and start to be more clinical in front of goal.

The Polish midfielder was handed the armband for the night and produced a majestic display to help his side qualify from the group. Zielinski was at the heart of everything positive Napoli tried to do and his range of short and long passing was a problem for the Foxes throughout.

NAPOLI: Meret 6, Di Lorenzo 6, Rrahmani 6, Juan Jesus 6, Mario Rui 6, Demme 7, Zielinski 8, Lozano 5, Ounas 7, Elmas 7, Petagna 6. Subs: Malcuit 6, Mertens 5, Manolas n/a

LEICESTER CITY: Schmeichel 6, Bertrand 6, Soyuncu 5, Evans 6, Castagne 7, Ndidi 6, barnes 6, Dewsbury-Hall 7, Tielemans 5, Maddison 6, Vardy 5. Subs: Daka n/a Soumaré n/a Albrighton n/a

4' - GOAL! Out of nothing, Ounas strikes a low effort through the legs of Soyuncu and beyond the outstretched Schmeichel. Napoli lead 1-0.

24' -GOAL! Napoli 2-0 Leicester City. Andrea Petagna plays in Eljif Elmas who taps home from close-range. It's all going wrong for Leicester

27' - GOAL! Napoli 2-1 Leicester City. It's game on as Jonny Evans hammers home from nine-yards to give Leicester a fighting chance. What a game we have here!

33' - GOAL! Napoli 2-2 Leicester City. A Superb volley from the edge of the box from Dewsbury-Hall brings the Premier League side level. What a comeback from Brendan Rodgers side.

53' - GOAL! Napoli 3-2 Leicester City - The Italian's carve open Leicester's defence and Elmas notches his second of the evening

FT: Napoli 3-2 Leicester City Napoli hold on to edge out Leicester and qualify in second place. Leicester will play in the Europa Conference League in February.