Napoli vs Juventus 2-1: Koulibaly Breaks Balance in Three-Goal Sloppy Affair

Now it’s official: after losing their second game in a row, falling 1-2 to Napoli, Juventus do have a problem. The Bianconeri took the lead at the Diego Maradona Stadium on Saturday night but saw the Partenopei come from behind and ultimately take all three points of offer at the end of a bizarre match that was decided by three sloppy goals.

Napoli – Juventus was not a great game, if truth be told. The showdown turned into a cagey affair, a festival of mistakes that saw Kostas Manolas, Wojciech Szczesny, and – decisively – Moise Kean offering the opposition some easy chances to make it to the scoresheet. And so, if Juventus had already shown some clear signs of weakness two weeks ago against Empoli, Napoli’s performance was also far from convincing tonight. 

? Starting XI: Ospina, Di Lorenzo, Manolas, Koulibaly, Mario Rui, Fabian, Anguissa, Elmas, Politano, Osimhen, Insigne.#NapoliJuve

? #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/u2qq6zAvEq

— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) September 11, 2021

There were some good news ahead for the game for Luciano Spalletti, who recovered Victor Osimhen in the middle of the front line after a successful appeal reduced the Nigerian’s suspension from two to one match. With Alex Meret unavailable, it was up to David Ospina to defend Napoli’s goal despite having come back from Colombia less than 48 hours earlier. 

Transfer market’s last minute addition André Zambo Anguissa made his debut for the Partenopei, joining Fabian Ruiz at midfield in a double pivot role.

Massimiliano Allegri, who was already missing Federico Chiesa due to an injury, decided to renounce to his South American players who were just back from an intercontinental flight. That’s potentially five starters missing from the lineup. As a consequence, Mattia De Sciglio won a spot as right back while Luca Pellegrini covered the other flank. In Allegri’s 4-3-3, the attackers were Dejan Kulusevski, Alvaro Morata and Federico Bernardeschi.

⚪️⚫️ ???? ?? ?#NapoliJuve #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/z7ZecbH0G0

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) September 11, 2021

The start was all for Napoli but Juventus clinically made the best out of their very first chance. The match suddenly took a different trend on 10 minutes as Kostas Manolas attempted a risky back pass to his goalkeeper, not realizing that Morata was lurking behind him. The Spaniard didn’t ask twice to steal the ball and deposit it past Ospina to draw first blood. 

Juventus continued to insist and push for the second: on 23 minutes, an exchange between Morata and Kulusevski set the Swede free to shot, prompting Ospina’s save.

The Colombian goalkeeper denied again Kulusevski right before the break when another insane back pass, this time from Insigne, sent him one-on-one with him. That concluded a first half that, after the Bianconeri‘s goal, turned into a nervous, cagey affair, with little to offer to the show. Napoli were the ones taking more initiatives but became more insecure after Juventus took the lead.

? Half-time pics#NapoliJuve 0-1 (HT)

? #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/oGYcdI06VU

— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) September 11, 2021

The Partenopei managed to draw level 10 minutes after the restart, courtesy of another – yet another – Wojciech Szczesny’s blunder. Lorenzo Insigne’s trademark tiro a giro was not dangerous and indeed the Polish goalkeeper seemed to be controlling it with ease. Still, he somehow failed to block the shot, allowing Matteo Politano to tap in from close distance. 

The Napoli goal scorer made room for Hirving Lozano on 70 minutes as Spalletti tried to shake things up. Allegri’s immediate reply was sending in Aaron Ramsey for Weston McKennie. Napoli’s next change was not a tactical one as Insigne had to leave the pitch limping for a knee injury. He was replaced by Piotr Zielinski.

In such a whirlwind of changes, it was another substitution to ultimately make the difference. On 82 minutes, Moise Kean made his “second debut” with Juventus and let’s just say that it could have been better. Right after setting foot on the pitch, the former Everton man headed the ball towards his own goal from a corner kick. Szczesny did what he could to prevent an incredible own goal but was once again punished from the tap in, this time from Kalidou Koulibaly.

The Senegalese delivered all three points to Napoli, who had their third win in a row. They likely took home a little more than they deserved, but officially certified the worst league start in a decade for Juventus.

 

MATCH SCORECARD

September 11, 2021 – Serie A 2021-22 Round 3
NAPOLI-JUVENTUS 2-1

SCORERS: 10′ Morata (J), 56′ Politano (N), 85′ Koulibaly (N)

REFEREE: Mr. Irrati from Pistoia
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Lozano (N), Elmas, Locatelli (J); Added Time: 1st Half 1′, 2nd Half 5′