Reigning champions Napoli continued their quest to retain the Serie A title with a hard-fought away win over fellow title contenders, Roma at Stadio Olimpico yesterday. A 36th minute goal from David Neres was enough to seal all three points for Napoli and the win takes them to second, albeit on goal difference, with AC Milan in first on the same 28 points as Napoli. Serie A’s tight table took another shift with the result and the gap between 1st on the table (Milan) and 7th (Juventus) is only 5 points.
Both sides lined up with 3 at the back but while it was a 343 for Napoli, it was a 3421 for Roma. Rasmus Hojlund started up top for Napoli, flanked by Noa Lang on the left and goalscorer David Nere on the right. Evan Ferguson started up top for Roma, with Matias Soule and Lorenzo Pellegrini behind him as the double 10s.
From beginning to the end, it was a closely fought encounter at the Stadio Olimpico, ultimately resulting in a 1-0 victory for the visitors, Napoli. The game’s early moments were dominated by Napoli’s sharp attacking intent, forcing Roma’s goalkeeper, Mile Svilar, into action immediately. A quick attack from Napoli forced Svilar out of his area to deny Noa Lang, before the goalkeeper scrambled back to stop Rasmus Hojlund’s follow-up effort, classifying this as an early save and near miss.
Napoli continued to create chances in the opening quarter of the game. Giovanni Di Lorenzo volleyed an effort into the side netting from eight yards, registering an early wayward shot. Napoli’s next clear opportunity again involved Noa Lang, who twisted and turned his way into the area, with his cross-shot almost catching out Mile Svilar. Svilar reacted quickly, getting one hand across to bat the ball away, marking another save and near miss for the home side. Around the 18th minute, Giovanni Di Lorenzo sent a second volley into the side-netting, another wayward shot.
The breakthrough came in the 36th minute from a rapid Napoli counter-attack. David Neres executed a sharp one-two with Rasmus Hojlund, ran through on goal, and coolly chipped the ball over the onrushing Mile Svilar to put Napoli ahead 1-0. The goal was immediately protested by Roma, but a VAR check confirmed that Amir Rrahmani had got his boot to the ball, making the counter-attack legal and validating the goal. Napoli led 1-0 at the half-time whistle.
Roma made an immediate substitution at the start of the second half, with Tommaso Baldanzi replacing Evan Ferguson.
The action continued to favor Napoli’s attack in the early stages of the second half, requiring further intervention from the Roma goalkeeper. Mile Svilar showed brave goalkeeping to deny Scott McTominay’s close-range effort. Svilar was soon called upon again, denying Rasmus Hojlund at the near post following a Noa Lang lay-off.
Around the 62nd minute, Roma made a double substitution: Bryan Cristante and Matias Soule were replaced, and Paulo Dybala and Neil El Aynaoui were sent on to boost the attacking threat. Napoli saw two of their players see yellow in two minutes, first Stanislav Lobotka in the 62nd and Sam Beukema in the 64th minute. Roma’s Tommaso Baldanzi also got a yellow in the 73rd minute.
Roma struggled to find the target despite the attacking changes. In the 76th minute, Lorenzo Pellegrini fired over from just outside the box, registering a wayward shot. Lorenzo Pellegrini was then replaced in the 80th minute by Leon Bailey. Further substitutions saw Wesley replaced by Stephan El Shaarawy in the 82nd minute. Evan Ndicka then got a yellow card in the 86th minute.
The hosts’ best chance of the entire match came late in the 90th minute. Substitute Tommaso Baldanzi was released by Paulo Dybala and unleashed a ferocious low drive. Napoli keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic produced a strong one-handed save to parry the ball away, ensuring the near miss and preserving the lead.
The intense final minutes saw cards handed out. In the 90th minute plus three, substitute Stephan El Shaarawy received a yellow card for his annoyed reaction after a decision went against him. Napoli’s Mathías Olivera received a yellow card in the 90th minute plus six for a mistimed sliding challenge on Neil El Aynaoui. The final whistle blew in the 90th minute plus six, confirming the Roma 0-1 Napoli result.
