Giacomo Raspadori scored a late winner as SSC Napoli edged past Spezia Calcio 1-0 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Saturday.
Unsurprisingly, Luca Gotti’s side played in a low block and they employed it with great effect, blocking 14 shots in the match. When Napoli managed to hit the target, Bartlomiej Dragowski was up for the task, making important saves on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Piotr Zielinski.
After a scoreless first half, Luciano Spalletti resorted to his now-deep bench. Tanguy Ndombele, who has had a slow start at Napoli, was replaced by Stanislav Lobotka at the half for a second consecutive start.
Spalletti later introduced Zielinski, Hirving Lozano, Giovanni Simeone and Gianluca Gaetano. Curiously, the Napoli manager did not remove Raspadori, who was very lively but struggled to hit the target.
That proved to be a wise decision, as Raspadori scored his first of the season in the 89th minute. Three of Spalletti’s substitutes were involved in the build-up. Lobotka showed his great vision, switching the play after spotting Lozano’s run on the right wing. The Mexican did well to take the ball down before playing a low cross into the danger area. Gaetano whiffed on the shot, but his slight touch of the ball was enough to earn him his first Serie A assist.
Meanwhile, Spalletti was cautioned for unsportsmanlike conduct after celebrating the goal in the direction of the Spezia bench. That was Spalletti’s second yellow card of the match, after earning his first for complaining to officials about Spezia’s excessive time-wasting. As a result, Spalletti will not be on the touchline for Napoli’s next Serie A match, which is a big one against AC Milan.
Before Milan, gli Azzurri will focus on their Champions League match against Rangers on Wednesday.
