Napoli traveled to the Marc’Antonio Bentegodi Stadium and left empty handed as they fell in defeat to Hellas Verona. It was a great opportunity for Napoli to climb back into the Scudetto race after both Milan outfits lost points on Saturday. Victor Osimhen made his much anticipated return early in the second half after more than two months out with a shoulder injury and contracting COVID-19.
Hellas started in a 3-4-2-1 and Napoli came out with their normal 4-2-3-1. Napoli were able to put the Supercoppa nightmare in the rear view mirror, if just for nine seconds as Hirving Lozano scored out the gate off a long ball assist from Diego Demme. His lighting fast goal marks the quickest ever for Napoli in Serie A, but, it was all for not as Hellas soon after took control of the match.
Napoli now have a long plane ride back home to get ready for their Coppa Italia match on Thursday against Spezia. Verona, now on par with Juventus for least goals allowed, will spend the week getting ready for a tough match vs Roma on the road.
NOI IN CAMPO COSÌ ?
— Hellas Verona FC (@HellasVeronaFC) January 24, 2021
FORZA VERONA ??#DaiVerona #SerieATIM #VeronaNapoli #lastoriAcontinuA pic.twitter.com/aX1A41HIP0
This match was a chance for Lorenzo Insigne to perform well, and start forgetting about the nightmare Supercoppa game in which he botched a penalty kick. However, it was nowhere to be found and was the first player Gennaro Gattuso made a substitution for in the 60th minute with Dries Mertens who seems to be still fully recovering from a nasty ankle injury suffered several weeks ago.
This was a match for Mattia Zaccagni to impress Napoli in person and he didn’t disappoint. Zaccagni has been heavily linked with Napoli to join the Partenopei in the summer. He had an outstanding game, scoring in the 79th minute off a header after being left alone just in front of the box, and assisting on the other which Antonin Barak put in the net at the 62nd minute. Defender Federico DiMarco also joined the scoring in the 34th minute with a shot right in front of goal which Alex Meret had no chance blocking a shot in such point blank range.
Verona now are tied with Juventus with least goals allowed (18) and they displayed why they are a very organized bunch led by coach Ivan Juric.
Of note for Napoli, Lozano is how is third place for goals scored in Serie A (9) not including penalty kicks, right behind Cristiano Ronaldo (11) and Luis Muriel (10).
? | StartingXI: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Maksimovic, Koulibaly, Hysaj, Demme, Bakayoko, Lozano, Zielinski, Insigne, Petagna.#VeronaNapoli
— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) January 24, 2021
? #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/T742y3YrjU
MATCH REPORT
January 24, 2021 – Serie A 2020-21 Round 19
VERONA-NAPOLI 3-1
SCORERS: 1′ Lozano (N), 34′ Dimarco (V), 62′ Barak (V), 79′ Zaccagni (V)
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VERONA (3-4-2-1): Silvestri; Dawidowicz, Gunter (76′ Lovato), Dimarco (57′ Magnani); Faraoni, Tameze, Ilic, Lazovic; Barak, Zaccagni (83′ Bessa); Kalinic (56′ Di Carmine) (Berardi, Pandur, Salcedo, Udogie, Cetin, Ceccherini, Danzi, Colley) Coach: Juric |
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NAPOLI (4-2-3-1): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Maksimovic, Koulibaly, Hysaj; Demme (65′ Politano), Bakayoko (82′ Lobotka); Lozano, Zielinski (83′ Elmas), Insigne (60′ Mertens); Petagna (65′ Osimhen) (Ospina, Contini, Mario Rui, Llorente, Ghoulam, Rrahmani, Manolas) Coach: Gattuso |
REFEREE: Mr. Fabbri from Ravenna
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Magnani, Zaccagni (V), Demme, Di Lorenzo, Koulibaly (N); Extra Time: 1st Half 2′, 2nd Half 4′
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