Giacomo Raspadori scored a stoppage time winner to secure all three points against Juventus. As a result, a Napoli win over Salernitana combined with a Lazio draw or loss against Inter would see the Scudetto return to Napoli for the first time in 33 years. Here are three takeaways selected by Forza Napoli Press.
Massi-Milano Ball
Max Allegri clearly watched and learned from Stefano Pioli, whose Milan managed two wins and a draw over a three-week period. As anticipated on the Forza Napoli Podcast, Allegri tried to replicate Pioli’s tactics using a traditional Juventus system (i.e. three at the back).
Like Ismaël Bennacer, Fabbio Miretti was tasked with shadowing Stanislav Lobotka in the hopes of taking the Napoli regista out of the match. Like Sandro Tonali and Rade Krunić, Matías Soulé was instructed to drop in non-possession to double-up on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Meanwhile, Filip Kostić and Juan Cuadrado – later replaced by Federico Chiesa and Angel Di Maria – provided the attacking threat on the break.
Though slightly less effective, Allegri’s replication nearly worked. The Bianconeri had two goals disallowed while keeping the Azzurri off the score sheet for over 90 minutes. However, for the second time this season, Luciano Spalletti got the better of Mad Max.
Fabbri Controversy
A match between Juventus and Napoli is rarely played without controversy, and this edition was no exception. The main talking point was the VAR review that ultimately canceled Angel Di Maria’s 82nd minute goal. Michael Fabbri was called to the monitor to review a potential foul by ex-Napoli player Arkadiusz Milik on Stanislav Lobotka. The video replay clearly showed that Milik contacted Lobotka’s shin prior to winning the ball. However, opinions vary as to whether the foul, which was not called by Fabbri in real time, warranted chalking off the goal.
Meanwhile, few would deny the guilt of Federico Gatti. Moments after a potential handball in the area by Manuel Locatelli, the central defender lashed out at Khvicha Kvaratskhelia with a closed-fisted slap that rose from the shoulder to the head. Gatti’s grimace, followed immediately by a realization at what he had done and what he risked, suggested that the slap to the Georgian was intentional. With Danilo blocking his line of sight, Fabbri may not have seen the incident in real time. Surely Gianluca Aureliano saw the red card offence in the VAR room, yet he did not call Fabbri to the monitor.
Jack In The Box
In the 86th minute, Luciano Spalletti boldly replaced the creative Kvaratskhelia with an out-of-form Giacomo Raspadori, and the decision paid off. In the third minute of stoppage time, Jack thumped a left-footed volley that was simply too hot for Wojciech Szczęsny to handle. In fact, three of Spalletti’s substitutes combined to score the only goal of the match. Piotr Zielinski faked a dribble on Manuel Locatelli before playing the ball wide to Eljif Elmas. The ever-versatile North Macedonian floated a first-time cross towards Raspadori at the second post, and the rest is history.
Raspadori was left completely unmarked in the area for three reasons. First, Daniele Rugani, who had an excellent performance deputizing for Alex Sandro, was occupied marking Victor Osimhen in front of the goal. Second, youngster Nicolò Fagioli was late to spot the run of Raspadori in the area. Finally, the biggest culprit was Juan Cuadrado, who did not track back after a shameful attempt to win a penalty kick at the opposite end of the pitch.
Per Nicky Bandini of The Guardian, it had been five years and a day since Napoli last defeated Juventus at the Allianz Stadium. On that occasion, Kalidou Koulibaly headed in the stoppage time winner. Only two Napoli players remain in the squad from that memorable day: Mario Rui, who was sidelined due to injury, and Piotr Zielinski. The Polish midfielder laid sprawled in the Juventus box after watching the eventual match winner trickle across the goal line, soaking in a moment he did not get to experience five years prior. As the club posted on their official social media accounts: Same result. Same Minute. Different ending.
