Rangers lost for the fifth time in a row in the European Championship, but were able to escape with no significant damage to their confidence.
Giovanni Simeone's two goals in the first 16 minutes set the tone for a chastening contest for the Scottish side.
The fact that there is a slim chance of prolonging their campaign into the new year is comforting for Rangers.
The Rangers side will have to beat the Dutch by a bigger margin than they did at the beginning of the group stage in order to reach their usual comfort zone.
This Napoli side won't be as good as the one in Amsterdam. Right now, few in Europe.
The Italians were playing a different game even with Luciano Spalletti looking at lesser-heralded options.
The way it started was very similar to the campaign for Ibrox. A lapse in concentration is1-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-6556 in1-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-6556 That's a big deal. Giovanni di Lorenzo slices a pass in front of Ben Davies. That's a big deal. The strikers finish is brutal.
After his team conceded in recent times, Giovanni van Bronckhorst spoke before the match. The memories of the two teams are still raw.
It's time to take a break, keep your shape, and don't do anything foolish. Mario Rui should not be allowed to flash a cross in from the left Don't allow Simeone to get between two defenders and hit a head shot.
The Rangers must have felt like they were in a washing machine. Thankfully for the Scots, the assault dissipated, as Tanguy and Giacomo had a few near things before.
Rangers were given a chance to play the ball between them, but eventually they gave it back.
They could not summon the insouciant quality that came so easily to their hosts, even when they did have a rare moment of promise, such as the sleight of foot.
The one time they did, Morelos should have scored, but instead he let the ball go over his foot with the goal gaping. His final act would be this one.
It was the last chance for Rangers. A couple of times early in the second half, the two teams had been close to a third, and moments after McGregor saved his defenders, that goal came.
There was still much to admire in the way Ostigard contorted his neck to score, even though it was more mundane than expected.
The Rangers players were disconsolate because they were given seven last time out and there were fears that Napoli could do the same.
As has been the case with other sections, this was the education Napoli gave Rangers. The Italians detonating in a devastating five or six minute spell in the opening quarter then retreated.
The group all but won and the leaders were content to close the contest down. They reminded Rangers of their threat but the visitors stuck to their task and had the odd sight of goal.
Without the likes of Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Napoli was simply too good. The fact that his side showed some resolve and returned home with dignity intact is a good sign.
There is a slim chance that they will get a place in the new year.
Rangers play Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday and then play their first European game against Amsterdam on Tuesday. The last 16 and a title tilt are what the Naples club can look forward to.
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