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NAPLES, Italy -- Still attempting to climb out of Diego Maradonas shadow after 25 years in relative obscurity, Napoli appears to be on the verge of something special.The southern club was thoroughly dominant in a 4-2 win over Benfica on Wednesday, tightening its grip on Group B of the Champions League.It was an extraordinary match against an opponent that is more accustomed to playing in this competition, former Napoli forward Roberto Sosa told The Associated Press on Thursday. Its not easy to score four goals.The Partenopei have also started strongly in Serie A, trailing five-time defending champion Juventus by one point through six matches.All this despite Gonzalo Higuains Italian-record transfer to Juventus for 90 million euros ($99 million) after scoring 36 goals last season to break a 66-year-old Serie A record.Were playing as a team now and everyone is adding something extra, said Belgium winger Dries Mertens, who scored twice against Benfica.While Napoli finished runner-up to Juventus in Serie A last season and in 2013, the team hasnt won the league since Maradona led the club to its only two titles in 1987 and 1990.Last season at a certain point the squad realized they couldnt do anything more but it was the only team on Juves level and I think its the same situation this season, Sosa said.In 2004, Napoli fell into financial disarray and was forced to restart in the third division under new ownership after film producer Aurelio De Laurentiis purchased the club.Napoli has been playing in Europe for the last (seven) seasons. There have been failures and presidential changes but now this club is improving constantly and keeping its finances in order, said Sosa, the popular Argentine known as El Pampa who played with Napoli in the third division and led the club back to the top flight.Napoli coach Maurizio Sarris personal history somewhat mirrors the teams travails over the past quarter century.Sarri toiled in relative obscurity in the lower divisions and provinces of Italian soccer before taking over his hometown club last season.Sarri acknowledged he felt goosebumps when he heard the roar of the San Paolo Stadium from the tunnel leading out onto the field Wednesday.Its something that touches you and remains in your skin -- like a tattoo, Sarri said.Born in Naples to Tuscan parents -- his father worked in the now-abandoned Italsider steel factory in the citys Bagnoli area -- Sarri has become a fan favorite.Along with one huge banner featuring Maradonas image, Napolis hard-core ultra supporters in the Curva B now also wave a banner with an image of Sarris bespectacled face.There wasnt much confidence in him at the start of last season but hes shown himself to be a top player, said Sosa, now a commentator and coach. It shows that in football you can never give up. When you decide on a goal and a dream, eventually you can realize it. (Sarri) kept chasing his dream and he has ended up in the Champions League. Its really deserved.While fans have decried De Laurentiis for raising ticket prices, they have supported Sarris stances against perceived referees mistakes, contrasting with De Laurentiis preferred silence.At odds with the city over the decrepit San Paolo Stadium, De Laurentiis said recently that he wont set foot again in the arena and wants to build a new 40,000-seat facility instead.Still, the San Paolo seems to have quite a positive effect on Napoli. The squad hasnt lost at home in Serie A since a defeat to Lazio in May 2015 -- a run of 19 wins and three draws -- and is also unbeaten at home in the Champions League, including the old European Cup format during the Maradona years.Despite Higuains departure, there have been plenty of players to admire.Arkadiusz Milik, the 22-year-old Poland center forward brought in to replace Higuain, has scored seven goals in eight matches -- three of them in the Champions League to tie for the tournament lead with Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and former Napoli great Edinson Cavani, who is now with Paris Saint-Germain.Jose Callejon has added five goals in six Serie A games, and fellow wingers Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne, another Napoli native, have also been incisive.Not to mention newly acquired midfielders Amadou Diawara, Marko Rog, Emanuele Giachherini and Piotr Zielinski -- some of whom have yet to make their Napoli debuts.The squad has strengthened itself in midfield. These are important players for an area where you need to run, Sosa said when asked to indicate the biggest improvement from last season. Theyre on the right road.---Andrew Dampf on Twitter: www.twitter.com/asdampf Zach Allen Cardinals Jersey . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Adrian Wilson Youth Jersey . The move comes after the Canadiens were approached by the Buffalo Sabres for permission to speak to Dudley - a former Sabres player and head coach. "The Sabres called for permission and I appreciate that, Im flattered, Dudley told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN. http://www.thecardinalsshoponline.com/Youth-Adrian-Wilson-Cardinals-Jersey/ .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Byron Murphy Womens Jersey . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Kyler Murray Womens Jersey . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. One loss didnt really cost No. 5 Clemson a shot at the national title. A second one wont be as forgiving.The Tigers (9-1, 6-1 ACC, No. 4 CFP) are still in control of the leagues Atlantic Division, and remained in the top four of the College Football Playoff rankings -- even after Pittsburgh beat them last week.A loss at Wake Forest (6-4, 3-3) on Saturday night, though, would change everything.Quarterback Deshaun Watson called that one-point loss to Pitt a good learning lesson before pointing out that its something they know they cant afford to experience again.I havent had too many losses, especially in college, Watson said. Its new around here. But you live and you learn. Youre going to take losses at some point in your life. Everyones not perfect. Theres no one thats playing football right now thats completely undefeated, regardless if youre a player or a coach. Its a good time to learn and grow from it.With a win, Clemson will wrap up a share of the division title with Louisville and would earn a spot in the ACC championship game in two weeks in Orlando, Florida. A loss, and its the Cardinals who will represent the Atlantic Division -- and would move into prime position to claim one of the four playoff spots.Wake Forest felt the potency of those Cardinals last week, and now wants to do a better job of playing the full 60 minutes against Clemson.The Demon Deacons led Louisville and had Heisman Trophy front-runner Lamar Jackson bottled up through three quarters before the Cardinals reeled off 34 points in the fourth quarter of a 44-12 victory.I told the team that you battled your butt off and had everyone in the country turning the channel to see the fourth quarter of a Wake Forest football game and we didnt finish the deal, coach Dave Clawson said. What can we learn from that? I think the lesson is to beat a team of that calibber, you have to execute for four quarters.dddddddddddd If there is any let up, a team like that makes you pain instantly and dearly.---Some other things to know about the Clemson-Wake Forest game:WATSONS TENDENCIES: Watson is passing more often and throwing less frequently than he did last year when he was a Heisman finalist. The Clemson QB is averaging five more pass attempts and four fewer rushes than in 2014, though those passing numbers might be skewed by the 70 throws he made against Pitt last week. Hes rushed eight times or fewer in three of his last five games.TURNOVER MARGIN: Takeaways are always key and Wake Forest can give itself a chance at the upset by continuing to force turnovers. The Demon Deacons lead the ACC with a turnover margin of plus-9 -- a marked improvement over last year, when they were minus-13 -- and Watson threw three interceptions in the loss to Pitt.DABO VS. WAKE: Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is 7-0 against the Demon Deacons and the combined score is 264-94. Wake Forests last win in the series came in 2008 and three days after the game the Tigers parted ways with then-coach Tommy Bowden and promoted Swinney on an interim basis.ONE WHO GOT AWAY: Keep an eye on Clemson DT Dexter Lawrence, a freshman from Wake Forest, North Carolina, who had nine tackles in the Pitt loss while also recovering a fumble and blocking two kicks. Only three other players in school history have that many blocks in one game.---AP Sports Writer Pete Iacobelli in Clemson, South Carolina, contributed to this report.---Follow Joedy McCreary at http://twitter.com/joedyap. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/joedy-mccreary---More AP college football: http://www.collegefootball.ap.org. ' ' '