NAPLES-FIORENTINA 6-0
5 ‘and 72’ on rig. Insigne, 36 ‘Demme, 38’ Lozano, 45 ‘Zielinski, 89’ Politano
NAPLES (4-2-3-1): Ospina; Hysaj, Manolas (79 ‘Rrahmani), Koulibaly, Mario Rui; Demme, Bakayoko; Lozano (62 ‘Politano), Zielinski (73’ Elmas), Insigne (79 ‘Cioffi); Petagna (73 ‘Mertens). All. Gattuso
FIORENTINA (3-4-2-1): Dragowski; Igor, Milenkovic (85 ‘Martinez Quarta), Ger. Pezzella; Venuti, Amrabat (85 ‘Borja Valero), Castrovilli (74’ Pulgar), Biraghi; Callejon (74 ‘Bonaventura), Ribery (46’ Kouamé); Vlahovic. Herds Prandelli
Ammonites: Badge (N)
Al Maradona is Naples show. Goleada. A 6-0 that exalts Gattuso’s offensive players: two goals and an assist for Insigne, absolute leader of the match and already able to overcome (9) his own haul of goals from the entire last season (8). Two assists and a lot of “dirty work” for Petagna, also Lozano and Zielinski on the net, as well as Demme and Politano in the final. And Mertens sees himself again after a month’s absence from the camps. There could not have been a better approach for Napoli to the Super Cup against Juve in midweek, against a very dangerous Fiorentina capable of creating almost as many chances as there have been Napoli’s goals. One-way game? Certainly not in the first half, since the viola had a good time be (big) chance per il bet, before the blues’ offensive and game party. In the end, the score is very clear, and allows Gattuso the momentary leap ahead of Juve in Ranking and the connection to Roma, defeated in the derby, in third place. The viola remains at 18.
The match
In classic Naples 4231: Koulibaly returns from 1 ‘, who had already played 90 minutes in the Italian Cup, while problems for Manolas return. In the middle, Fabian Ruiz is missing, positive result at Covid: Demme replaces him, next to the very confirmed (and match winner in the 90th minute of the last round) Bakayoko. Mertens is back available, but he is only on the bench. Again Lozano, Zielinski and Insigne behind Petagna. Instead, the doubts of the eve of Prandelli have been resolved. In attack he is trident: Ribery returns (absent in the last championship and in the Italian Cup), with him the great former Callejon, both behind Vlahovic. Behind it makes German Pezzella, in doubt on the eve.
Ready and go, the show immediately started and in fact it takes just five minutes for the first goal: Lozano’s cross, Petagna’s work in the area behind the goal and assist for Insigne. Looking at the half-time scoreboard, a long blue monologue seems to begin, it is not so. Fiorentina has in fact three great chances for the draw, all in the space of ten minutes. At 23 ‘cross-shot by Biraghi (deflected by Demme) who catches the crossbar, at 27’ Ospina is super over Ribery in the area and, therefore, at 32 ‘again Biraghi touches the net by touching the post. Then the show of Gattuso’s team, again in ten minutes: as many chances as those created by the Viola, but all on target. 36 ‘, 38’ and 45 ‘: Demme in insertion makes 2-0 on the second assist of the day for Petagna; Lozano in cut “alla Callejon” and on the magic of Insigne makes tris; and then Zielinski drops the right-footed poker from the edge. Five shots, four goals. Interval.
Prandelli replaces Ribery with Kouamé. Double striker and Fiorentina who does not give up, but the door seems to remain bewitched: Vlahovic exceeds Ospina in the exit with a touch under the 55 ‘, but this time it is a rescue on the Koulibaly line. So the changes: Politano for Lozano, but above all Insigne’s personal brace on a penalty in the 72nd minute. The match is now definitively closed: Mertens is also back on the field since he was absent since last December 16th (for a limping Petagna), with him also Elmas. While on the opposite front inside Pulgar and Bonaventura. In the final debut for the 2002 class Cioffi, minutes also for Rrahmani, Borja Valero and Martinez Quarta, and a new goal: Politano scores on the counterattack. Game, set, match Napoli.
– .
