Fiorentina did Milan and Inter a huge favor by condemning Napoli to a 3-2 defeat at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona – a result that upsets the Partenopei’s race for a first Scudetto title since 1989/90. Nicolas Gonzalez gave the Viola a first half lead, before the second period experienced a goal-fest.
Dries Mertens equalized first after the restart, before new signings Jonathan Ikone and Arthur Cabral doubled the Florentine natives’ lead. Victor Osimhen’s late goal mattered very little in the end, as Napoli succumbed to their sixth defeat.
Star defender Kalidou Koulibaly had a game to forget, as he rightfully reflected that opinion to the microphones of DAZN (via TuttoNapoli) in his post-match press conference.
“There is a lot of anger, because we wanted to win this match at all costs. We are disappointed, but we have to take a day to put this defeat aside,” he said.
The Senegal stopper believes that the Partenopei gave everything they had, despite the final result. However, he did concede that his side’s defensive solidity of late has been questionable.
He said: “Too bad we conceded these goals from the counterattack but I think we gave everything. We create opportunities up front but we don’t score goals. Behind we must be solid, I see that behind we do not give the solidity and confidence that is needed in front and I am very sorry about this.”
The southerners face Roma next in the league, who will take confidence from their 2-1 comeback victory against Salernitana. Koulibaly anticipates a high-adrenaline encounter and says Napoli have to focus on themselves, instead of fellow Scudetto contenders Inter or Milan.
“We have to go on because next Monday we have a great match against Roma, it’s not over yet, I believe in it until the end. We are on equal points with Inter and let’s see what Milan will do, but we don’t have to see the others, we have to do as we did at the beginning of the season and see match after match. I think this is the path we must take,” he concluded.
Napoli sit level with Inter at 66 points, despite the Nerazzurri having an extra game in hand. Milan lead the duo by two points after failing to extend their lead by virtue of a second successive stalemate at the hands of Torino.