Napoli, goals and show at the "Maradona": Leicester beaten and qualification obtained

Napoli celebrated in front of their home crowd under the pouring rain at the Maradona Stadium: the Azzurri beat Leicester 3-2 thanks to a goal from Ounas and a brace from Elmas. Spalletti's men qualified for the Europa League round of 32 as group runners-up, behind Spartak (who beat Legia 1-0 away).

For the decisive match of the group, Luciano Spalletti abandons the experiment of the three-man defense attempted against Atalanta and returns to four at the back. The cup goalkeeper is Meret, then Rrahmani and Juan Jesus central and the usual Di Lorenzo and Mario Rui full-backs. The midfield duo consists of Demme and Zielinski, who moves up leaving space to Elmas in the attacking midfield alongside the wingers Ounas and Lozano. The only striker is Petagna. Some absences due to Covid cases and various problems, however, at Leicester. However, there are many starters available to coach Rodgers: Schmeichel between the posts, then a defensive line composed of Castagne, Evans, Soyuncu and Bertrand. The two midfielders are Ndidi and Tielemans, then space for Dewsbury-Hall, Maddison and Barnes behind Jamie Vardy.

Dream start for Napoli, who took the lead after just 4 minutes. Petagna took the ball on the edge of the area and shot, a deflection sent the ball to the feet of Ounas who coordinated in the area and shot diagonally beating Schmeichel with a low shot for 1-0. The first 20 minutes of the Azzurri were highly reassuring: excellent ball management, a few chances but above all an opponent nullified. In the 24th minute things got even better with the doubling signed by Elmas. Great dribbling by Zielinski in midfield and precise through ball for Petagna on the edge of offside: the Italian striker waited one-on-one with the goalkeeper and touched it to the Macedonian who made no mistake with an empty net.

Things seem to be going well: with the 2-0 Napoli are qualified, even if temporarily as second due to the simultaneous victory of Spartak. Leicester's reaction, however, upsets the plans of Spalletti's men, who suffer the comeback of the English in the space of 7 minutes. In the 27th minute, just three minutes after Elmas' goal, Evans reopens the accounts by collecting a loose ball in the area and piercing Meret from close range. In the 34th minute comes the equalizer: the Azzurri defense rejects a cross from a free kick, great volley by Dewsbury-Hall that finds the corner and the 2-2. As if that were not enough, the first half ends with more bad news: problems for Lozano, who hits his head against Ndidi's knee. The Mexican is forced to leave the field on a stretcher: he will be taken to the hospital for tests.

Napoli made a courageous start in the second half: the Azzurri increased the intensity and began to press Leicester in their own half to avoid elimination from the tournament. In the 53rd minute, the goal for the new lead for Napoli arrived, scored once again by Elmas, who scored a brace. Di Lorenzo ran down the right, crossed low and neither Petagna nor the English centre-back touched: the ball reached the Macedonian who stopped it, adjusted it and kicked with his left foot with Schmeichel immobile. It was the goal for 3-2 that sparked enthusiasm at the “Maradona”. Celebrations that risked being extinguished just two minutes later: a bloody horizontal pass in defence by Di Lorenzo, Maddison took advantage and, one-on-one with Meret, kicked sensationally against the outside of the post, wasting the chance to equalise again. Spalletti changed formation, putting Manolas in place of Demme to defend Leicester’s attacks, all forward to avoid elimination from the tournament. There were many balls in the Azzurri penalty area, but it wasn't enough: the final whistle qualified Napoli for the next phase of the Europa League.
Vincenzo Scarpa

In short

Success for the Azzurri in the rain with Ounas and Elmas: second place in the group behind Spartak, who beat Legia

Napoli celebrates in front of their home crowd under the downpour of the Maradona Stadium: the Azzurri beat Leicester 3-2 thanks to…
Spalletti's men qualified for the Europa League round of 32 as group runners-up, behind…
For the decisive match of the group, Luciano Spalletti abandons the three-man defense experiment he attempted against Atalanta and returns to…