If anyone still had any doubts about Napoli’s ability to regain the Italian title after 33 years, the answer came with an anthological performance at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, worthy of the stadium patron’s best times. It was a decisive match par excellence. The Neapolitans welcomed Juventus, their hated opponent, in a big way. Velha Senhora came from eight straight league victories, relying on the best defense in the league. What we saw, however, was the most devastating performance of the best attack in Serie A. Napoli reduced Juve’s defense to dust. It was a disastrous night for the black and whites ago, but that didn’t detract from the voracity shown by the Celestes, especially Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia. Result: sensational 5-1, which leaves Luciano Spalletti’s team with a capital advantage of ten points at the top of the competition. It’s a flawless first round.
Napoli adopted an offensive attitude during the first minutes and occupied the attacking field. It’s not surprising, given the characteristics of the teams, with Juventus more contained in their own field. It was a high-level duel between attack and defense, with a continuous imposition by the Neapolitans. The first good finish comes in the 13th minute, but Wojciech Szczesny saves Osimhen. A minute later came the goal. The Celestini worked on the passes without the Juventini being in line with the marking. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia performed a trick to hit the ball and Szczesny saved, but Osimhen was more careful in the rebound and headed in.
Napoli didn’t keep such a strong pace. And the match became more open after 9 pm, when Ángel Di María almost scored a great goal. It is true that Amir Rrahmani faltered when he passed the ball to the Argentinian, but the playmaker was very careful to shoot from outside the area and only stopped on the crossbar. From that moment on, the Old Lady began to conquer the midfield, modifying their tactical design to better occupy the flanks, and the Neapolitans fell further back. Di María served Arkadiusz Milik’s header, which was saved by Alex Meret, while Bremer also had an opportunity to eliminate.
It took a while for Napoli to have a little more depth again. Only in the last stretch of the first half did the Celestes return to production and expand to 39, with more collaboration from the black and white defense. On a ball crushed in the area, Bremer fails to cut and leaves room for Osimhen. The attacker has plenty of time to decide what to do and place Kvaratskhelia, in a safe conclusion on Szczesny’s counterattack. At least at the end of the first half, Juve responded. Always with Di Maria. The veteran cashed in at 42, after playing with Milik, even with the complacency of the mark. And, in a moment of pressure, a draw could have come. Meret made an outstanding save to avoid a Rrahmani own goal.
In the second half, Napoli returned with Eljif Elmas replacing Matteo Politano. Initial medical attention prevented the game from catching fire right away. But Napoli soon rose to regain a wider lead. Osimhen drives the defense crazy and escapes Alex Sandro, with a strong kick that Szczesny extends. The third goal happened on the corner, after 10 minutes. After crossing the area, the ball reaches Rrahmani and the defender sends a chapulette, with no chance for Szczesny. Juventus responded with substitutions, with the introduction of Leandro Paredes and Moïse Kean.
Juve are thankful for not having conceded their fourth goal in the 14th minute. In a wrong exchange of passes, Bremer delivers the gold to the edge of the area and Osimhen is left alone. The scorer was ahead of Szczesny, but he exaggerated his strength and sent it over the bar. Velha Senhora was on the ropes, with obvious difficulties connecting his attack and reaching the offensive field. The Neapolitans take advantage of it. Each advance was a different concern for the opponents, not only for the celestial vigor of the attacks, but also for the imprecision of the black and white defense.
The fourth goal at this point seemed like a matter of time. And it’s still Osimhen, on 19 ‘, coaching. Bremer was terrible again in the match, when he stamped Mário Rui on the backline. Kvaratskhelia collected the ball on the left side of the area and crossed with affection. Osimhen passed with everything and headed decisively, between two. And not that the celestials were satisfied. Kvara was still lighted and pulled from outside, to be captured by Szczesny. The goals fluctuate again for the fifth goal in the 27th minute, once again with immense ease from the hosts. The exchange of passes finds a wide open defense and Elmas shoots, with a deflection from Alex Sandro, to pass Szczesny.
From then on, match continuity became mere protocol. Juventus fielded the boys and also tried to reduce the damage, but without much enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Spalletti took the opportunity to spare some of Napoli’s best. Osimhen would have been applauded after his fantastic performance. The same would happen later with Kvaratskhelia. The Neapolitan fans allowed themselves the luxury of shouting olé, waiting for the final whistle. And he was able to enjoy the evening, which recalled those times when Maradona overtook Juve to transform Napoli into the heart of Italian football. It is the victory that makes us believe that the Scudetto, in fact, could arrive within a few months.
Napoli start their Serie A group ten points clear at the top, 47 points in total. It is a result that confirms, once and for all, the strength of Luciano Spalletti’s team to win the Scudetto. It was a champion performance, against an opponent who perhaps doesn’t even have the strongest team in recent years, but it arrived packaged and ended up engulfed. Just the most hated rival of the Neapolitans. You can’t ask for more, in an unforgettable result, and it will be more if the cup arrives. Juventus, with 37 points, could be overtaken by Milan and equaled by Inter at the weekend. If this was a match to put the Bianconeri in a title fight, it seems much more to endorse the potential star player on the other side.
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