Napoli 3 – 1 Atalanta: Match Report and Napoli player ratings.
Napoli hosted Atalanta today as they looked to separate from the rest of the top four. Antonio Conte set his side up in a 3-4-2-1 instead of his traditional 4-3-3 or a 4-1-4-1. They did this as Napoli has suffered a lot of injuries in the middle of the park, which led to this change.
However, it had a positive effect for Conte’s side as it allowed bot David Neres and Noa Lang to play. The two of them scored all three of Napoli’s goals. This also let Rasmus Hojlund to drop deep and come for the ball letting the midfield also holding an attacking role.
This game was a great bounce back from their 2-0 loss against Bologna before the international break, as Conte may have turned a corner. Napoli will look to carry this form to their Champions League game against Qarabag FK and turn their European campaign around.
Player Ratings:
Vanja Milinkovic Savic – 6: Vanja Milinkovic Savic had another great performance today as he has been doing all season. He took care of chances in the first half, even though Napoli had most of the chances. In the second half Atalanta upped the pressure but Vanja stood strong.
Sam Beukema – 5.5: Sam Beukema didn’t have a stand out game but he took care of all his defensive duties. Atalanta where strong on the counter attack which he didn’t work to stop, and he didn’t have much of an attacking threat.
Amir Rrahmani – 5: Amir Rrahmani only played an hour in today’s game as he failed to leave a mark on the game. He wasn’t involved in a lot of Napoli’s attack movements. He is usually one of Napoli’s best but today he was off it for sure.
Alessandro Buongiorno – 6: Alessandro Buongiorno was Napoli’s best defender today as he found the mix between when to stay back and when to attack. He started aggressive moving forward, while still moving up the pitch but as Napoli’s lead grew slowly he stayed back more.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo – 5.5: Giovanni Di Lorenzo had an average game today, as he took care of all his jobs. He helped out a little attackingly however, most of Napoli’s build up play came through the middle of the pitch, so he wasn’t needed much. And while defending he didn’t cause any issues for Napoli which is a positive.
Stanislav Lobotka – 5: Stanislav Lobotka failed to make a big mark on today’s game as he is still recovering from injury. Scott Mctominay was clearly the better midfield while it looked like Lobotka was idling by at times and not performing to his best.
Scott McTominay – 6.5: Scott Mctominay was a powerhouse in midfield for Napoli today as he looked to push the attack forward constantly. Whenever he received the ball there was no waiting he would have to go and push it forward, this led to him getting the assist to Neres for the second goal.
Miguel Gutierrez – 5: Miguel Gutierrez suffered under some of the same issues as Di Lorenzo today, as he failed to effect that attack. Di Lorenzo was better in this regard earning himself an assist, Di Lorenzo was also better defensively which is why Gutierrez has ended up worse.
David Neres – 7.5: David Neres was Napoli’s man of the match today as he bagged a brace in only thirty eight minutes. The first goal was excellent dribble work showing off his flair to find the back of the net. The second was a lovely first time finish from Mctominay pass which he pushed past Marco Carnesecchi.
Noa Lang – 6.5: Noa Lang has been on and off this season for Napoli. But today he looked good as he got Napoli’s third goal forcing a header into Carnesecchi who stumbled over his own line. Other than that he was a great attacking threat for Napoli but wasn’t quite rewarded.
Rasmus Hojlund – 7: Rasmus Hojlund played a different role today then what he has during the rest of the season for Napoli. He was playing deeper to allow the wingers to run inside and create chances. This worked as Napoli wingers combined for three goals and he assisted one.
Match Coverage
Inter Milan 2-0 Genoa: Match Report and Player Ratings
Inter Milan faced Genoa today, as they look to put the loss to Bodo Glimt behind them. They would start off doing so by dominating the early stretch of the game. But they struggled to score, coming so close with Justin Bijlow making some great saves to keep them out.
It looked like Inter would lose their heads, especially coming off a loss. Instead they pushed through and managed to find a goal thanks to Federico Dimarco. Henrik Mkhitaryan chipped the ball over the defensive line, who found Dimarco who hit it first time on the volley across the goal into the bottom left.
Inter would slow down in the second half as they look to control the game. However in doing so they slowly let Genoa back into. But Genoa struggled to create any real chances during the game to find an equaliser to the game.
Inter would look to pounce on this poor play from Genoa taking small chances when they could. This led to Inter being awarded a penalty in the 68th minute for a handball from Amorim. Of course Hakan Çalhanoglu would step up and slot it home into the bottom right corner. Inter would then see the game out with ease with a two goal advantage.
Player Ratings
The Best
Federico Dimarco – 7.5: Dimarco had another stellar performance for Inter Milan at home in the San Siro. His goal was a magical finish with a low volley across the goal finding the bottom right corner.
Henrik Mkhitaryan- 6.5: Mkhitaryan controlled the midfield for Inter Milan while he was on the pitch. He broke the line well for Inter multiple times including the goal while also moving the ball from defence.
Justin Bijlow – 6.5: Bijlow had a stellar performance for Inter in between the sticks. The first goal was also impossible to save, and the second was a penalty where he went the wrong way. However, he made some big saves during the game to stop it from getting to three or four nil.
The Worst
Marcus Thuram – 5: Marcus Thuram failed to have a strong input on today’s game. This come as it seems his head has been outside of Milan for a while as he struggled again.
Tommaso Baldanzi – 5: Baldanzi failed to have a big impact on today’s game as most of attack came through Genoa’s strikers. He failed to be the link from the midfield to the attack which hurt Genoa.
Amorim – 4: Amorim came on to start the second half and had a terrible half. He failed to get a hold of the game seeming a second behind most the time, and given away the penalty to Inter Milan.
Match Coverage
Hellas Verona 1-2 Napoli: Match Report and Player Ratings
Hellas Verona hosted Napoli today in the third game of match week 27. Verona were chasing an upset result against Napoli. This came as they were winless in their last five games with only one draw. However, their hopes of going so were dashed quickly. It would take Napoli only two minutes to break the dreadlock.
They did so on their first chance of the game through a header with Rasmus Hojlund. This came as he held play up to allow Matteo Politano to cross it in to Antonio Vergara. Vergara then played the ball to Hojlund who put the ball over the keeper to the left post to give Napoli the lead.
Napoli would continue the attacking pressure on for the rest of the first half. However, they failed to create any real big chances to score from. Meanwhile Verona slowly worked themselves into the game at home, having some minor attacks, but not creating any big chances. The second half would be much of the same with Napoli having the better of the chances.
However, Hellas Verona slowly and slowly worked themselves more into this game. This came to a head in the 64th minute when Verona won a corner. Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro would find the ball at the edge of the box after a headed clearance. He would hit the ball first time on the half volley and after a deflection he would find the back of the net to equalise for Verona.
But, the game was not over there as Napoli went back on the attack to look for a winner. It seemed that they weren’t going to find one getting locked out of Verona’s goal until the 94th minute. Then, Napoli took a corner short, which led to a low cross from Giovane Nascimento which Romelu Lukaku tucked away with the last kick of the game.
Player Ratings:
The Best
Rasmus Hojlund -7.5: Rasmus Hojlund was a standout player for Napoli today from kickoff. Hojlund scored in the second minute and was key in buildup holding up the play for the full 90.
Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro – 7: Akpa Akpro was key in the midfield for Verona today as he looked to control play through the middle. His goal was a well taken bonus to an already great performance.
Antonio Vergara – 6.5: Vergara started off the game well for Napoli assisting their goal in the second minute. He wouldn’t stop there however creating plenty of half chances but not being able to score.
The Worst
Kieron Bowie – 4.5: Bowie created very little in terms of offensive production for Verona today. Even when they where on the attack he did very little and he couldn’t hold up or create play as well as Amin Sarr did.
Stanislav Lobotka – 4: Lobotka looked invisible today in Napolis midfield as Elmas picked up most of the work. He had a couple of good moments but nothing to write home about, likely due to tired legs as he has played heavily for Napoli due to squad injuries.
Domagoj Bradaric – 4: Bradaric similar to Lobotka struggled to have a real effect on the game for Verona today. He started well but failed to build on it for the rest of the game, losing a hold of play and being dominated on the flank by Politano.
Match Coverage
Galatasaray 5-2 Juventus: Match Report
Juventus traveled to Turkey today to face Galatasaray in the first leg of the Champions League round of 32. Galatasaray started the game with the fair share of the ball, as they looked to score at home. However, they wouldn’t be able to do so not being able to create a lot of real chances.
This was until the 15th minute, when Juventus turned the ball over deep in their own half from in the 15th minute. This led to Gabriel Sara being found open in the box to finish it away to the bottom corner. Juventus would respond straight away however, as a Andrea Cambiaso cross, found Pierre Kalulu who gave Koopmeiners an empty net to finish.
Juventus wouldn’t stop there however, as they looked to give themselves the lead away from home. Koopmeiners was able to find a second goal for Juventus. This came after Weston Mckennie freed him up with a 1-2 which gave him room to finish at the edge of the box.
Galatasaray would look to respond, before the end of the half but would fail to find a goal. This is despite Glieson Bremer coming off due to injury in the 33rd minute. However, they would be able to in the second half as Noa Lang would finish a rebound from Michele Di Gregorio in the six yard box to equalise in the 49th minute.
But, Galatasaray didn’t just want a draw at home instead wanted to win before travelling to Turin. This led to them pressing for a third goal, which they would find. Juan Cabal gave away a free kick at the edge of the Galatasary box, which was sent in and headed home by Davison Sanchez.
Juventus would push to equalise after the goal, creating a few quick chances, and a couple of corners as they aimed to tie the game ahead of the second leg. However, Juventus would only make it harder for themselves as in the 66th minute Juan Cabal would receive his second yellow card and be sent off, after coming on at halftime.
Juventus would struggle down to 10 men as Galatasaray kept on pushing in the second half. There high press found another goal for Noa Lang in the 74th minute, after Khepren Thuram turned over the ball in his own box, and the goal was an easy finish. Galatasaray wouldn’t stop there as Sacha Boey would find a fifth after coming off the bench in the 83rd minute. This would see the game end with Juventus needing to win by three goals in Turin to advance.
-
Transfer News4 months agoJuventus star summer signing could already be up for sale.
-
Match Report4 months agoInter vs Kairat Almaty: match review and player ratings
-
Transfer News4 months agoSeria A teams set to fight over Manchester United striker.
-
News4 months agoFiorentina have decided on a new head coach
-
News4 months agoLuciano Spalletti could lead Juventus charge to keep star strikers.
-
Match Report4 months agoRangers vs Roma: Match Review and Player Ratings
-
News4 months agoFiorentina evaluating new coaching hires to take over from Pioli.
-
News4 months agoAC Milan expected to have one injured player back on the bench
