Joe Fischetti - Forza Napoli Press

Kvaratskhelia Tells Hellas Verona Fans to Go To Sleep

16

Aug

SSC Napoli

Kvaratskhelia Tells Hellas Verona Fans to Go To Sleep

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored a goal and added an assist in his SSC Napoli debut on Monday. Despite a dominant start, Napoli found themselves trailing 1-0 just before the half-hour mark. It didn’t take long for Napoli to respond though. Less then 10 minutes after Kevin Lasagna’s opening goal, the Georgian wonder-kid attacked Hirving Lozano’s cross and directed his header into the bottom corner. In celebration, Kvaratskhelia made a sleeping pose, resting his head on his clasped hands, in front of the home supporters. An avid basketball fan, Kvaratskhelia’s celebration was a nod to Golden State Warriors Point Guard Stephan Curry.…

Napoli Score Five is Season-Opening Victory

15

Aug

By Joe Fischetti

SSC Napoli

Napoli Score Five is Season-Opening Victory

SSC Napoli opened the 2022/23 campaign with an impressive 5-2 victory over Hellas Verona at ever-hostile Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi. Despite dominating the first half, Napoli conceded the opening goal just before the half-hour mark from a Hellas Verona corner kick. Kevin Lasagna was left completely unmarked at the far post and converted what was effectively Verona’s only chance of the half. Napoli responded well, scoring twice before the intermission. First, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened his account for Napoli, heading in the cross from Hirving Lozano. Victor Osimhen put Napoli ahead in stoppage time from Mario Rui’s out-swinging corner kick to the…

Koulibaly Scores First Goal as Chelsea Draw Tottenham

15

Aug

By Joe Fischetti

SSC Napoli

Koulibaly Scores First Goal as Chelsea Draw Tottenham

It didn’t take long for Kalidou Koulibaly to score his first goal as a Chelsea FC player, and what a goal it was. The central defender scored in the 19th minute from a corner kick. Another Chelsea newcomer, Marc Cucurella, played an out-swinging cross from the left corner flag. Koulibaly was left completely unmarked in the area and made no mistake with the finish, smashing a volley into the top corner. The Senegal international nearly scored a second 10 minutes later, again from a corner kick. On that occasion he got under the ball and the shot finished over the…

14

Aug

By Joe Fischetti

Napoli Femminile

Emma Severini Returns to Fiorentina

On July 26th, ACF Fiorentina officially announced the signing of ex-Napoli player Emma Severini on loan from AS Roma. Severini becomes the third Napoli player to join Fiorentina this summer, after goalkeeper Rachele Baldi and winger Kaja Erzen. https://twitter.com/acf_womens/status/1551946484911849476?s=21&t=bR4Bs-XwUTLGQqp70JAUjQ The 19 year old made 14 appearances during her one season at Napoli (seven from the first minute). She had one assist on the season, ironically in a 2-0 victory over Fiorentina. Severini, who played for Fiorentina’s Primavera team before moving to Roma, is looking forward to this new challenge. “I’m delighted to be back in Florence. It’ll undoubtedly be a…

14

Aug

By Joe Fischetti

SSC Napoli

Dries Mertens Makes Galatasaray Debut

Dries Mertens made his first appearance in a Galatasaray shirt on Saturday. The Belgian came on as a substitute in the 78th minute, immediately after Borja Sainz opened the scoring for Giresunspor. The Galatasaray Number 10 replaced right winger Yunus Akgün, but played on the left wing. Mertens was only on the pitch for 12 minutes (plus stoppage time), but was very involved in the action. In the 81st minute he was part of the build up to a Haris Seferovic header that was barely pushed off the line by Giresunspor goalkeeper Onurcan Piri. Three minutes later Mertens' direct free…

Insigne Scores Match Winner as Toronto FC Continue to Roll

14

Aug

By Joe Fischetti

SSC Napoli

Insigne Scores Match Winner as Toronto FC Continue to Roll

On Saturday, Lorenzo Insigne scored his second winner in as many matches. With the score level at one and just over ten minutes remaining, Insigne made an incisive run into the area. Midfielder Michael Bradley played a cheeky lob to pick out Insigne's run. The ball took a fortuitous bounce off the back of Portland Timbers defender Bill Tuiloma and fell for Insigne, who smashed a volley into the back of the goal. The goal put Toronto back ahead after conceding the equalizer six minutes earlier. Central defender José Van Rankin was left completely unmarked in the area after Insigne…

13

Aug

By Joe Fischetti

SSC Napoli

Petagna Uninspiring in Monza Debut

Andrea Petagna made his AC Monza debut just one day after officially signing for i Brianzoli. Petagna played 75 minutes but managed only one shot attempt in the 2-1 defeat to Torino FC. Though Monza recorded eight shot attempts and enjoyed slightly more ball possession, Petagna struggled to assert himself in the match. Ex-Atalanta player Aleksei Miranchuk opened the scoring just before the break. Antonio Sanabria doubled Torino's lead in the 66th minute with an acrobatic scissor kick. Monza substitute Dany Mota scored in the final minute of stoppage time, but it was too little too late. Goalkeeper Michele Di…

13

Aug

By Joe Fischetti

SSC Napoli

Hellas Verona-Napoli Match Preview

A new look Napoli kick off their 2022/23 campaign with a bang, visiting the ever hostile Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi to take on Hellas Verona. Hellas Verona Under the leadership of Igor Tudor, Bologna finished 9th last season, seven points behind an improved Fiorentina squad who qualified for the Conference League. With numerous changes at the club, another mid-table finish would be considered a success. Tudor left the Gialloblu to take a position at Marseille and has been replaced by ex-Udinese coach Gabriele Cioffi. Cioffi began the 2021/22 season as the assistant to Luca Gotti, but was handed the reigns after Cioffi was…

Napoli Sign Midfielder Antonella Albertini

13

Aug

By Joe Fischetti

Napoli Femminile

Napoli Sign Midfielder Antonella Albertini

On Friday, Napoli CF announced the signing of midfielder Antonella Albertini. Born in Irpina in 2003, Albertini spent the last three seasons playing in the Primavera. She represented Sassuolo Primavera in 2019/20, then played with Pomigliano Primavera for the following two seasons. https://twitter.com/NapoliFemminile/status/1558000333456130049?s=20&t=XRKHlePfcim4JeOFd3ZKFg Albertini is excited to join Napoli, which is the next step in her development. “I am very happy to have made this choice because it represents an important step of growth for me. I can't wait to measure myself against a reality of this type and with the football of the greats. "

Mario Balotelli – A Dream Too Good to be True

12

Aug

By Joe Fischetti

Features

Mario Balotelli – A Dream Too Good to be True

“I have always said it would be a dream for me to play in Napoli,” said Mario Balotelli as he walked off the pitch at the Stadio Teofilo Patini in Castel di Sangro. Balotelli scored the first of Adana Demirspor’s two goals from the penalty spot, 15 days before his 32nd birthday. Once the most highly rated prospect in Italian football, Super Mario has now played for eight different clubs since winning the treble with Inter in 2009/10. Yet one club - arguably the club that suits Balotelli the most - has always eluded him: SSC Napoli. Balotelli was born…