Napoli responded to their first league defeat of the season with a 2-0 victory over Sampdoria at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. Here are four takeaways selected by Forza Napoli Press.
Remembering Luca
The match on Sunday was played in the pouring rain, a fitting setting on an emotional night in Genoa. Prior to the match, the clubs honoured two late Sampdoria legends, Siniša Mihajlović and Gianluca Vialli, both of whom sadly passed away in the last few weeks after long battles with cancer. All in attendance shared a moment of silence, while Sampdoria President Marco Lanna held up a Vialli jersey and Dejan Stankovic stood alongside Mihajlović’s sons holding up their father’s jersey. Meanwhile, Sampdoria ultras unfurled a banner that read “Bomber, campione, leggenda (Killer striker, champion, legend).”
Penalty Kicks
Napoli were awarded two penalty kicks in the match, bringing the Azzurri’s total this season to 10 in all competitions. After scoring his previous three penalty kicks, Matteo Politano’s attempt was pushed off the upright by Emil Audero. Politano became the third Napoli player to miss a penalty this season, after Victor Osimhen and Piotr Zielinski. Perhaps justice had been served for a questionable decision by match official Rosario Abisso. Eljif Elmas converted Napoli’s second penalty kick, becoming the sixth different shooter already this season.
Luciano Spalletti was frustrated in his post-match interview with DAZN after a reporter suggested that Napoli might be disorganized with respect to penalty shooters. Spalletti clarified that he allows the players to choose who shoots the first penalty, while he decides who shoots the second, and he decided on Elmas.
Shaky at the Back
Up until Tomas Rincon was sent off, Napoli looked vulnerable at the back for the second consecutive match. It was a very open match, which typically favours Napoli’s style of play, but Sampdoria generated a number of opportunities to score. Sam Lammers and Manolo Gabbiadini (twice) had decent shooting attempts, all after uncharacteristic turnovers from Giovanni Di Lorenzo. Kim Min-jae lost a 50/50 duel with Lammers before Alex Meret parried Valerio Verre’s first-time hit from outside the area. Bram Nuytinck came close on the ensuing corner kick, but his header finished narrowly wide of the far post.
To make matters worse, Kim was replaced by Amir Rrahmani at the break. Given Napoli’s narrow lead, the injury was likely due to an injury concern rather than strategic in nature. Spalletti confirmed as much after the match. He noted that Kim’s muscle tightened up, so he was removed for precautionary reasons to avoid a serious injury. Kim will undergo further tests this week.
Bump in the Road
With their loss to Inter on Wednesday, Napoli’s lead over second-placed Milan was reduced to five points. Meanwhile, their lead over Juventus and Inter decreased to seven and eight points, respectively. The pressure was on for Napoli to get back to winning ways, which they did. Meanwhile, both Inter and Milan conceded 93rd minute goals in their respective draws to Monza and Roma.
The net effect since Serie A resumed is that Juventus and Milan have pulled within seven points (+3 and +1, respectively), while Inter have pulled within ten points (+1). That sets up the marquee matchup of Round 18 between Napoli and Juventus. With a win at home, Napoli would move ten points clear of Juventus. However, with a loss the gap would be reduced to only four points.
