Napoli's friendly against Casertana ends 1-1. Politano scores, McTominay returns to the field.

The friendly between Napoli and Casertana, played on a warm morning at the Patini Stadium in Castel di Sangro, ended 1-1, in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Antonio Conte took advantage of the test to get playing time into the legs of those who had been given less playing time and to try new solutions, even bordering on the usual: such as Mazzocchi at center back or Lukaku starting alongside Politano and Sgarbi.

The first half began at a leisurely pace. Lukaku looked for goal after a few minutes but was met by Zanellati. Then, in the 35th minute, a mistake by Zanoli gave Casertana the lead: Vano rose to the top with a header and did not forgive. The response came before halftime, in the 43rd minute: Matteo Politano created a gem, skipping past two men and tying the score with a surgical left-footed shot.

The second half saw plenty of rotation. Conte introduced McTominay, finally back on the pitch after being sidelined during the training camp in the Dolomites, along with Gilmour, Lang, and Marianucci. The Scotsman earned applause and came close to scoring twice, both with headers, confirming that the recovery is moving in the right direction.

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Many of the starting lineups are absent, from Olivera to Buongiorno, and Juan Jesus, who is still struggling with aches and pains. But the real news for Conte is that the tests continue, and Napoli is starting to outline its options for the season. Even so, the draw against a Serie C team does raise some concerns, especially at the back. This afternoon, the team returned straight to work.