Debut with a draw for the Napoli in the Europa League: the match against Leicester ends 2-2, with Luciano Spalletti's men recovering from a two-goal deficit in the final minutes thanks to a brace from Viktor Osimhen.
The pre-match previews are confirmed: in defense there is Malcooked and Rrahmani and Koulibaly, complete with Di Lorenzo department. In midfield Anguissa and Fabian Ruiz support the returning Zielinski, up front there is the new Lozano with Insigne and Osimhen.
After a good start, Napoli suffers Leicester's attacks: the first big chance arrives in the 6th minute with Barnes who almost scores after a confused action. Three minutes pass and the English find the net for the lead: the usual Barnes attacks on the wing and finds Perez with a precise cross, who scores on the fly. Ospina touches it but it's not enough: 1-0 for the Foxes at 9'. After a phase of ball possession, Spalletti's team grows and begins to become very dangerous in the opponent's area.
At 36' Zielinski almost equalizes from two steps away on a pass from osimhen; two minutes later there is a great opportunity for Insigne, who shoots wide from the penalty spot following a corner. At the end of the half a third chance also arrives: Malcuit finds the centre Lush, who all alone had his header saved by a diving Schmeichel.
The start of the second half mirrors the end of the first: Napoli all forward, Leicester crushed behind. At 60′ a scare for the Neapolitans: Iheanacho Tielemans catches the ball, who passes it to Daka in the tight space. The Zambian striker shoots first and scores: it looks like the 2-0 goal, but VAR disallows it for offside. The men of Spalletti they all feel the scare: four minutes later Iheanacho recovers a ball in midfield and finds it with a through ball Barnes, which beats Malcooked in a one-on-one with a winning diagonal. This time no offside: it's 2-0 for the Foxes. The Azzurri close the gap in the 70th minute: Fabian Ruiz-Osimhen exchange, the Nigerian receives, skips past a defender and scores the 2-1 goal. Napoli believe and find the equalizer in the 87th minute: Osimhen scores again, this time with a header on a cross from Politano, who came on during the match. Nervous ending for the English, who finish with 10 men due to the expulsion of Ndidi (double yellow card).
One point each, then: leading Group C is Legia Warsaw, victorious yesterday against Spartak Moscow away.
Vincenzo Scarpa
Article published on 16 September 2021 - 23:05
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