Napoli’s reign as Italian champions counted for nothing on a bruising European night as João Pedro powered Chelsea to a stunning 3-2 comeback victory, dumping the Scudetto holders out of the Champions League at a stunned Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

The Brazilian forward ripped the heart out of Napoli with two sensational second-half strikes on Wednesday, dragging Chelsea into the last 16 and leaving the Italian giants staring at continental humiliation.

Chelsea struck first when Enzo Fernandez calmly converted a 19th-minute penalty, awarded after Juan Jesus handled Reece James’ whipped free-kick in a desperate attempt to block it.

But the injury-hit hosts refused to roll over, flipping the script as Antonio Vergara spun away from two defenders to fire low past Robert Sanchez, before Rasmus Hojlund sent Antonio Conte’s side into the break with a shock lead.

That resistance crumbled under the brilliance of João Pedro. In the 61st minute, he unleashed a ferocious long-range rocket that screamed into the top-right corner, silencing the Neapolitan crowd.

The Chelsea forward then completed the heist eight minutes from time, finishing coolly after a surging run to spare the Blues the play-offs, though Sanchez still had to deny former teammate Romelu Lukaku a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser.