Napoli 2-0 Sassuolo
Goals are the currency of football.
Whether in the final minute – as Napoli enjoyed in the Champions League in midweek – or in the opening stages of a contest.
The fact remains that it only takes a second to score a goal and decide a football match.
This Serie A result surprised few SBOBET followers. The only shock was that Carlo Ancelotti’s men failed to win by a bigger margin.
Highlights of the game
The pre-match Serie A 2018 betting odds favoured the side from Naples against the Neroverdi.
That they went into the encounter a massive nine points behind reigning champions Juventus, after their victory at Udinese, and very much in the ‘best of the rest’ category did not mean they aren’t determined to close the gap.
And it took only three minutes for the home side to make their point.
Piotr Zielinski had already forced the visiting goalkeeper Andrea Consigli into action within 80 seconds and within a similar time frame he was picking the ball out of the net.
Manuel Locatelli’s poor backpass was intercepted and in stepped Adam Ounas, instantly rewarding Ancelotti for his inclusion in the team with a flick over Giangiacomo Magnani before half volleying the ball into the net.
What a way for Ounas to mark his first start in the top flight.
It was the perfect start for Napoli and the chances kept on coming.
The recalled Dries Mertens drew a flying save from Consigli before the ball fell to Kevin Malcuit who couldn’t keep his shot down.
Belgian livewire Mertens was then denied by Consigli again after good work by Simone Verdi.
Locatelli was having a poor first half and gifted possession away again shortly afterwards to allow Verdi to play through Zielinski who was thwarted by the quick-thinking Consigli.
After falling behind in a rapid home start, Sassuolo may have been relieved to only be one goal behind and twice came close to levelling the scores in quick succession.
First Amadou Diawara made a crucial interception after fine work by Pol Lirola before Filip Djuricic’s snapshot from the edge of the box called David Ospina into action.
After such a one-sided first half, it was easy to forget that Sassuolo had only lost two league matches so far this season and coach Roberto De Zerbi, the former Napoli striker back in familiar surroundings, was hoping for an improved second half showing.
He had been full of praise for his counterpart and former club in the build-up to the game and inside the first two minutes of the restart, Napoli had to clear their lines as the visitors outlined their intentions.
Ounas then hit the side-netting after a Malcuit run before Ospina got behind a powerful Domenico Berardi effort.
It proved to be Ounas’ final contribution as Ancelotti brought on Lorenzo Insigne, the super sub against Liverpool in Europe four days earlier.
He nearly had an immediate impact only for Consigli, yet again, to produce a fine save, tipping his goal bound effort around the post.
It was certainly a more even second half and Ospina offered his side a timely reminder they were only one goal ahead.
A lovely nutmeg from Berardi opened up space and found Djuricic whose angled drive was beaten away by the leg of the Napoli goalkeeper.
The Colombian goalkeeper then paled a Berardi shot around the post as Sassuolo sensed a way back.
It needed something special and Insigne – who else – provided it from the bench for the second time in four days.
Elseid Hysaj pulled the ball back from the left and Insigne took aim and unleashed a curling right foot shot into the top corner of the net.
Consigli didn’t stand a chance and Sassuolo were beaten.
As Serie A 2018 highlights go, this is well worth a watch.
Ospina kept out Berardi again and then, with a reflex save, Khouma Babacaras the visitors continued to be spirited but were unable to muster a reply and slip to what is still an impressive seventh place in the table.
Their frustrations were evident three minutes from time when Rogerio was dismissed for a high challenge on Jose Callejon.
In was more silly than reckless but with it when Sassuolo’s slim hopes.
Napoli stay second.
Key statistics
This was the 10th different starting XI Ancelotti has selected during his 10 matches in charge.
Top of Form
What’s next?
After the international break, Napoli have two tough away assignments.
They return to Serie A action at Udinese before taking on Paris St Germain in Paris in the Champions League – all this before welcoming Roma to the Stadio San Paolo in what will be deemed the clash to determine Juventus’ main title challengers.
Sassuolo travel to Sampdoria before hosting Bologna a week later
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