Series A

Serie A | Napoli 0-1 Empoli: Kovalenko might doom Garcia

Published

1 year ago

1:29 pm

Viktor Kovalenko’s stoppage-time stunner gave Empoli the shock victory away to Napoli, as Rudi Garcia’s tactical experiments failed miserably.

The Partenopei had a combined week, successful away to Salernitana solely to then draw with Union Berlin within the Champions League. Victor Osimhen and Diego Demme have been out of motion, however Rudi Garcia reworked the squad, dropping Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, Piotr Zielinski and Natan for a change of system to 4-2-3-1. One other change was pressured within the warm-up when Alex Meret suffered a calf pressure. The Tuscans have been in penultimate place, shedding Italy Below-21 worldwide Tommaso Baldanzi, Sebastian Walukiewicz and Giuseppe Pezzella to harm.

The hosts pressured a few massive early saves from Etrit Berisha with a Matteo Politano roller and the Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa header on the ensuing nook.

Empoli additionally had two probabilities in fast succession, Mattia Cancellieri drilling simply broad after a very good passing transfer earlier than Gollini rushed out to push the ball off Ciccio Caputo’s toes.

Simeone had the ball within the web on 27 minutes, however Cholito was offside on the Leo Ostigard by move.

Gollini was examined once more by a Nicolò Cambiaghi strike that needed to be palmed spherical the bottom of the close to publish, as Napoli have been jeered off the sector at half-time.

The 4-3-3 formation returned with the introduction of Kvaratskhelia and Zielinski, the Georgian instantly sending Bartosz Bereszynski to floor just for the shot to be charged down.

Kvaratskhelia additionally pulled again to the sting of the world for substitute Jesper Lindstrom to sting Berisha’s gloves, whereas the Georgian additionally pressured a save on the close to publish.

Napoli thought that they had received it within the closing minute when a wayward Lindstrom effort changed into an help for Kvaratskhelia on the close to publish, however Berisha caught out a foot to disclaim the angled drive in a sensational response save.

As an alternative, moments later it was Empoli who took the lead with a shocking strike from Kovalenko, who managed to bend it round Gollini in off the within of the upright on the far high nook from a difficult angle.

Napoli 0-1 Empoli

Kovalenko 91 (E)