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Chelsea will play either Monaco, Qarabag, Paris Saint-Germain or Newcastle United in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League. Joao Pedro fired Liam Rosenior's side to victory at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium on Wednesday night to secure automatic qualification to the knockout stages.

Enzo Fernandez broke the deadlock from the penalty spot, but the Blues' lead didn't last long. Antonio Vergara pulled back an equaliser a few moments later before Rasmus Højlund put the Italian giants ahead.

Joao Pedro levelled proceedings on the hour mark, smashing the ball into the top corner. The Brazil international doubled his tally for the evening in the final minutes after Chelsea caught Napoli outnumbered on the counter-attack.

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The west Londoners finished the 'league phase' in sixth place, and they'll face either Monaco, Qarabag, PSG or Newcastle in the last 16 in March.

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The draw for the knockout phase play-off will take place in Nyon, Switzerland, on Friday, January 30, at 11am (GMT), pulling together teams that finished between ninth and 24th in the 'league phase' table.

The two-legged tie will be played on either February 16 or February 18, and on either February 23 or February 25. The eight teams that advance from the knockout phase play-offs will be thrown into the hat for the last 16 draw, which will take place on Friday, February 27.

Meanwhile, those who finished in the top eight of the 'league phase' table, including Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester City, automatically qualified for the last 16, and won't return to action in the competition until March.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the highly anticipated clash in Naples, Rosenior heaped praise on Conte. The Chelsea boss said: "Huge respect for him, firstly as a player, he was a magnificent footballer.

"He then went on to have an incredible and still has an incredible career as a coach. I think his passion as a player transmits to the passion in his teams and obviously when I was younger watching Chelsea play in the manner that they did, defensively so strong.

"[Eden] Hazard was incredible in those moments, and he's gone on to prove what an amazing manager he is and he's won many titles, including an incredible title here last year."

Napoli headed into the match off the back of a disappointing defeat to Juventus in Turin. On the Italian giants' form, Rosenior said: "This is a very strong team.

"I think it would have been unfortunate in the recent games that they played. The results haven't followed the performances that Antonio's team have given.

"We know it's going to be a very difficult game in a very special atmosphere. It doesn't change my plans at all because I've been planning for a very difficult game."

Rosenior added: "In football, in the Champions League, in Serie A, in the Premier League, you can never expect anything. The competition level is so high. Napoli are a great team.

"They proved that last year with a fantastic title. When they have outstanding individual players, they have a world-class coach. They're still in the position where they can get through.

"We're aware of that. I think it will make for an exciting game because Napoli have to win. Also, for us to have a realistic chance of the top eight, we also need to win."