For a group that misplaced its captain, all-time main scorer and defensive stalwart within the offseason, Napoli has crammed within the holes masterfully.
With each match, it appears, the southern membership discovers a brand new weapon. After midfielder Piotr Zieliński shined within the attention-getting 4-1 win over Liverpool within the Champions League, reserve striker Giacomo Raspadori scored his first objective for Napoli within the 89th minute of a 1-0 victory over Spezia in Serie A on Saturday. “It’s difficult to play three days after a night like that against Liverpool, especially in the afternoon in this heat. But despite it all, we did everything we could to get the result,” Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti mentioned. “This is a show of character, patience and belief that sooner or later we’ll find the goal, but we can’t always afford to be in these situations and they were costly last season.”
The last-gasp win on the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona moved unbeaten Napoli atop the Italian league standings, one level forward of Atalanta, which may reclaim the lead when it hosts promoted Cremonese on Sunday.
Defending champion AC Milan, which was enjoying at Sampdoria later, might additionally transfer degree on factors with Napoli. Napoli is chasing its first league title since Maradona led the membership to its solely two Serie A championships in 1987 and 1990. Raspadori, the 22-year-old loaned from Sassuolo, began within the place of injured Victor Osimhen and Spalletti stored him on to the top regardless of substituting most of his different attacking gamers. Spalletti’s choice paid off when Raspadori put himself in place to redirect a cross from Hirving Lozano and hearth contained in the again publish.
“These are all starting points for me,” Raspadori mentioned. “I had missed two chances but I was able to remain lucid.”
It was simply what Napoli had in thoughts when it agreed to the mortgage deal, which requires the membership to buy Raspadori’s full rights on the finish of the season for 30 million euros ($30 million). What’s extra is that Raspadori turned Napoli’s eighth totally different scorer in Serie A this season, tied for probably the most within the league with Inter Milan.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the 21-year-old Georgia winger who has already scored 4 objectives and was named Serie A’s participant of the month for August, confirmed off his abilities once more on the left flank when he dribbled by means of the legs of two defenders on the identical play within the first half.
A couple of minutes later, “Kvara” was at it once more with extra dizzying dribbling strikes to shake off his markers. His shot this time was a bit extra exact however Spezia goalkeeper Bartłomiej Drągowski smothered his effort in entrance of the close to publish. Zieliński got here on as a second-half substitute and made a direct impression, producing a long-range shot that Poland teammate Drągowski needed to palm over the crossbar.
Spezia additionally threatened every now and then and middle again Amir Rrahmani needed to clear a shot off the road amid chaos inside Napoli’s protection.
In all, Napoli is doing effectively to maneuver on after former captain Lorenzo Insigne left for Toronto FC, document scorer Dries Mertens went to Galatasarary and bodily defender Kalidou Koulibaly joined Chelsea. South Korea middle again Kim Min-jae, Koulibaly’s substitute, was rested after he, too, has made a big effect.
“There’s a great atmosphere within the team. Everyone is very welcoming, which is important for someone shy like me joining a squad like this,” Raspadori mentioned. Spalletti was despatched off along with his second yellow card amid scuffles after Raspadori’s objective, which additionally resulted in a pink card for Spezia’s goalkeepers coach.
Up subsequent for Napoli is a go to to Rangers within the Champions League on Tuesday. Then Spalletti must be suspended for subsequent weekend’s conflict with Milan.
