It was not easy to put Verona under. But in the end, Napoli managed to find their offensive strength and, above all, Arek Milik's goals: two goals from the Pole and Hellas knocked down 2-0. First seasonal goals for Milik who added three heavy points to the ranking and, somehow, revived the championship ambition. Honor to the defeated, however, because the formation of Juric would have deserved a little more in the first half. And if he didn't get it, it was only for the exploits of Alex Meret that he parried the impossible, thus masking the moment of great confusion in which his companions had fallen.
MERTENS OUT - Carlo Ancelotti also thinks about the Champions League match in Salzburg on Wednesday night. From the result of this match you will have a clearer idea of how many chances Napoli have to go to the second round. And, therefore, the coach rests Dries Mertens and ranks Insigne alongside Milik. In the midfield line, in place of the captain, there is Amin Younes. News also in defense, where Di Lorenzo acts on the left, while in his role, on the right, there is Malcuit. Ivan Juric, on the other hand, asks his Verona to confirm that he is in a positive series from three games: four of the current nine points in the standings, he has won them away and, therefore, not having European commitments, is relying on the starting line-up, with Stepinski on center of attack.
NO FEAR - Verona immediately lets it be understood that it will not give up easily: it will not be a simple morsel to throw down. And Napoli starts with the unusual 4-2-3-1, filed after the defeat of Turin, against Juventus, on the second day. Insigne acts as a central in the three behind the only point, Milik. It is the Polish striker who is anticipated, in two stages, by Silvestri on Malcuit's cross (7 '). And it is always the Veneto goalkeeper who rejects a conclusion without too many pretensions of Allan (8 '). From that moment on, Napoli disappears, Verona takes the initiative and begins to press across the board, Juric has prepared a race that does not include waiting: Napoli must be attacked.
MERET SUPERSTAR - Roberto Mancini will have to consider him, among the goalkeepers to bring to the next European. The young Neapolitan number deserves the apotheosis of the San Paolo when, in the 18th minute, he rejects the conclusions of Lazovic, Pessina and Stepinski. And it's not over here, because just two minutes later, with his dolls, he pushes back a great close-up shot of Zaccagni. Napoli is frightened by the aggressiveness of the opponents, in midfield Veloso and Amrabat start the actions for the incursions of Lazovic, on the left, and of Faraoni on the right. And the Naples? It looks like a lost team, without a soul. Occasionally, it emerges from the gray and tries to organize something serious, but with unlikely results. Much movement between the offensive lines, but dangerous conclusions even to talk about it.
MILIK - When it doesn't materialize then it happens that you are punished. And that's what happened at Verona: the inaccuracies in front of goal and Meret's parades prevented him from scoring. Which, instead, was able to make Napoli in the 37th minute, when Milik deflected Fabian Ruiz's low cross from the left into the net. For the Polish striker it is the first seasonal center, for him a real liberation. Time ends with the Verona attack.
SUPERIORITY - It all emerges in the second half, when the, Naples press with greater insistence. Juric recalls Zaccagni and inserts Salcedo (7 '), while Silvestri has to lie down to push back Fabian Ruiz's right-footed shot. The same goalkeeper from Verona deflects a close shot by Younes in the corner (12 ’). Meanwhile, Juric provides for the second replacement, inserting Di Carmine instead of an impalpable Stepinski. Ancelotti also provides for a change: inside Zielinski and outside Younes. And it is the Polish midfielder who wins the punishment from which Milik's second goal is born: Insigne's serve is deflected by the striker on the fly. It's a double for him. The double disadvantage does not knock down Verona, which occasionally appears in the Neapolitan area, with Salcedo (out a little) and with a shot from distance by Faraoni that ends at the side. Shortly after the half-hour there is also room for Mertens (he hits the pole at 37 ’) who enters to replace Insigne: for the captain there is the applause of the Saint Paul. The same riot reserved for Milik ten minutes from the end, when he leaves his place to Fernando Llorente.
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