Napoli remained top of UEFA Champions League Group A after matchday three. The Partonopei beat Ajax 1-6 at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Tuesday, with Giacomo Raspadori scoring two and adding an assist, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored his first ever goal in the Champions League. Here are three takeaways selected by Forza Napoli Press.
Unphased
For the third time this season, Napoli conceded first and went on to win rather comfortably. Hellas Verona scored first in Napoli’s season opener, before the Partenopei scored five goals in the 2-5 victory. Two-and-a-half weeks later, Mattia Zaccagni scored only four minutes into Napoli’s first real test of the season against Lazio. Gli Azzurri kept their cool, took control of the match and scored on either side of the break. Though the margin of victory was narrow, the result never seemed in doubt.
On Tuesday, Mohammed Kudus opened the scoring after a pair of fortunate bounces. Steven Bergwijn’s blocked cross fell kindly to Kenneth Taylor before the midfielder’s shot deflected off Kudus and into the back of the goal. Despite the early deficit, Napoli stayed true to their identity – an attack-minded team that moves quickly on and off the ball – scoring six unanswered goals.
All three come-from-behind victories were achieved in hostile environments: the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi in Verona; the Stadio Olimpico in Rome; and the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam.
Jack’s Still the Main Striker
With Victor Osimhen continuing to recover from a thigh muscle injury, Luciano Spalletti has relied on Giacomo Raspadori to be his number 9. The former Sassuolo player has scored six goals in his last seven matches for club and country.
His first goal for Napoli was an 89th minute winner against Spezia, and Jack has been on fire ever since. Four days later he scored his first ever UEFA Champions League goal as a substitute against Rangers. Raspadori continued to deliver on the international stage, helping Italy top League A, Group 3 with a goal in each of Italy’s two UEFA Nations League matches. Though he did not score against Torino, Raspadori played an important rule in the attack, dropping deep and pulling Torino’s central defenders out of position.
But Tuesday’s match was Raspadori’s most productive. The attacker equalized in the 18th minute with a perfectly executed diving header. He scored his second of the match (and Napoli’s fourth) in the second half, curling a first time hit around goalkeeper Remko Pasveer. Raspadori added an assist, completing a give-and-go with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia before the Georgian scored his first ever Champions League goal.
Meanwhile, Giovanni Simeone continues to help the team however he can. On Tuesday, Napoli’s other number 9 scored his second of the Champions League and third in all competitions. With Raspadori and Simeone both firing on all cylinders, and Osimhen on the verge of recovery, Spalletti will have the envious challenge of finding a way to integrate all of his attacking threats.
Ndombele’s Almost Ready
Tanguy Ndombele played 45 minutes for the third time this season (after the matches against Lecce and Spezia). Though his two appearances in the Champions League were against clubs playing a man short, Ndombele appears to be improving on a match-to-match basis.
On Tuesday, Ndombele was more involved and better-positioned, demonstrating an improved understanding of Spalletti’s style of play. He provided the assist on Napoli’s sixth goal of the night and very nearly scored his second of the competition, but Pasveer got just enough of the ball to push it off the bar and out.
The midfielder’s improved form is timely. Piotr Zielinski exited the match at halftime due to a blunt force trauma to the right calf, which means Ndombele could get the start in Napoli’s match against Cremonese on Sunday.
