Shortly after Romelu Lukaku’s late equalizer, Giovanni Di Lorenzo confirmed his status as a club legend, curling a left-footed strike into the top corner. With the 3-1 victory, Napoli have earned at least one victory against all 19 opposition clubs in a single season for the first time in club history. Here are four takeaways selected by Forza Napoli Press.
Seeing Red
Roberto Gagliardini was predictably sent off five minutes before the end of the first half. The Inter midfielder could have been booked on four separate occasions in the opening frame. He was fortunate to get away without a booking after a pull on Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s shirt only six minutes into the match. After catching Di Lorenzo with a late slide tackle in the 19th minute – already his third foul of the match – Livio Marinelli had no choice but to record Gagliardini’s name in his book.
The midfielder should have been dismissed no more than five minutes later, when he caught Kvaratskhelia with another late slide tackle, but once again Marinelli spared him. However, in what might have been his final match in Inter colours, Gagliardini did not learn his lesson. The midfielder caught André-Frank Zambo Anguissa with yet another late slide tackle after the Napoli midfielder anticipated the pass from Nicolo Barella, earning a second yellow card.
Perhaps Simone Inzaghi was partially to blame for leaving Gagliardini in the match, despite the seemingly high risk of a second yellow. However, the Inter coach was in a difficult position, having to balance multiple high priorities. Inzaghi clearly would have been content with a draw away from home against the league leaders as Inter battle city rivals Milan for a position in the top four. Perhaps Inzaghi was willing to take the risk, anticipating the points penalty that was handed to Juventus on Monday. The Inter coach has seen excellent results in recent weeks, having to rotate heavily with Inter simultaneously reaching two cup finals: the Coppa Italia final, to be played on Wednesday, and the Champions League final, to be played on the 10th of June.
The Real Napoli
With two losses, three draws and only six goals scored in their previous eight league matches, Napoli appeared to have taken their foot off the gas. Understandably, having secured the league title with five rounds remaining, the Partenopei lacked the same motivation displayed earlier in the season.
However, with Inter being the only club Napoli hadn’t beaten this season, the Azzurri showed up to play, showcasing all of the qualities that led them to their first scudetto in over three decades. Even before Inter went down to ten men, Anguissa and Lobotka led Napoli as they pressed high and counter-pressed to win the ball back quickly. When Inter beat the press, Elmas and Kvaratskhelia tracked back to help defend, picking pockets and sliding to recover the ball.
In possession, Napoli were patient in the buildup, dominating possession and using the entirety of the pitch. All three midfielders were quick, on and off the ball. Piotr Zielinski terrorized the Inter defense, turning sharply and passing swiftly in tight spaces. To their credit, Inter defended well up until Gagliardini’s red card, limiting Napoli’s chances. However, for the balance of the match, the Nerazzurri were simply too short-handed to keep up with Napoli’s pace of play and creativity, both in open play and from the set piece. Finally, the Partenopei were clinical in their finishing. Anguissa and Di Lorenzo scored the types of wonder-goals that had become synonymous with Napoli’s play earlier in the season.
O Capitano
Shortly after Juan Jesus fell asleep on Romelu Lukaku’s equalizer, Giovanni Di Lorenzo restored the home side’s lead. André Onana could only watch as the Napoli captain’s left-footed strike curled within inches of the intersection of the upright and the crossbar.
After the goal – his fifth of the season, to go along with six assists – Di Lorenzo ran straight to Spalletti to give him a hug. “He came to hug me because we are at the end of the championship and because in training I always ask him, ‘Oh, but when are you going to give me a hug?’ This time he satisfied me, to make a little show,” said Spalletti in his post-match press conference. Di Lorenzo’s account was slightly different. “The coach is very important for me, for us, for the team. I like to celebrate with my teammates, even on the bench, that was the dedication.”
Scugnizzo
Gianluca Gaetano put the cherry on the cake, scoring his first Serie A goal with Napoli at a packed Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Born in Naples, Gaetano rose through the Napoli youth system before spending two seasons on loan at Cremonese, helping the Grigiorossi earn promotion to Serie A.
With a number of players ahead of him in the pecking order, Gaetano’s appearances were few and far between. The midfielder made only 10 appearances across all competitions, totaling 135 minutes, with no individual appearance lasting longer than 17 minutes. Yet, the 23-year-old made the most of his time, assisting Giacomo Raspadori for the winner against Spezia back in September. The Cimitile native couldn’t hold back his tears as he celebrated his first Napoli goal below the curva.
