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| Via www.youtube.com |
April…
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,
it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,
it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,
it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity,
it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness,
it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,
we had everything before us, we had nothing before us,
we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way “
– Charles Dickens (A Tale of Two Cities)
it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness,
it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,
we had everything before us, we had nothing before us,
we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way “
– Charles Dickens (A Tale of Two Cities)
Serie A
Napoli 0-4 Milan
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| Via www.eurosport.it |
Where to start with this one? This was the first of three games with A.C. Milan in 16 days and the performance was well below the usual standard of Napoli this season. The scoreline was appropriate for the performance but Napoli’s performance was probably influenced by the ultras in and outside of the stadium. They acted like animals fighting amongst themselves like chimpanzees. We love the ultras of Italy but not when they are violent.
It should also be mentioned that Osimhen was out injured and so that played its own part, in terms of strategy and style. However, we can’t help but think that this result may have been tactical.
With two such huge games coming up in the Champions League, why would you show all your cards in a Serie A with only 3 points at stake? Maybe that is wishful thinking and let us not forget to give credit to Milan, who were very good. In particular Leão, who for the first time in 4 months had a good game, and Tonali who was our man of the match. Both of them had fantastic games and regardless of the motives, Napoli were poor.
It should also be mentioned that Osimhen was out injured and so that played its own part, in terms of strategy and style. However, we can’t help but think that this result may have been tactical.
With two such huge games coming up in the Champions League, why would you show all your cards in a Serie A with only 3 points at stake? Maybe that is wishful thinking and let us not forget to give credit to Milan, who were very good. In particular Leão, who for the first time in 4 months had a good game, and Tonali who was our man of the match. Both of them had fantastic games and regardless of the motives, Napoli were poor.
Lecce 1-2 Napoli
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| Via www.tuttomercatoweb.com |
Again Napoli were not really at the races for this fixture. They ground out the victory like any good championship-winning side but it was not a game to remember with an own goal by Lecce defender Gallo deciding the tie. With Osimhen still out Napoli looked somewhat toothless in the box. But a win is a win and the big games were only around the corner.
Champions League Quarter-final 1st leg
Milan 1-0 Napoli
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| Via www.news.rthk.hk |
The first half of the most important fixture in Napoli’s recent history. Away in the San Siro, one of the football’s temples, everything started so promisingly. Kvaratskhelia had a wonderful chance within the first few moments of the game and really should have scored. But then things didn’t really go to plan.
Milan played to their strengths, which is absorbing pressure and then hitting teams on the counter. Which is how they scored their goal. It was a good goal, crafted well and Napoli can have no complaints but they can with the referee.
He was poor at best, giving out yellows for fun and trying to make himself famous. It worked for him. Thanks to his recklessness, Kim would be suspended for the return leg thanks to simply speaking to the ref as would Anguissa who was sent off for two clumsy fouls in the space of four minutes.
The second of which was barely even a foul. Milan won the day due to, good defensive work, excellent goalkeeping from Maignan, poor finishing by Napoli,
and P.E. teacher/referee István Kovács, who for the record wasn’t corrupt, just bad.
Milan played to their strengths, which is absorbing pressure and then hitting teams on the counter. Which is how they scored their goal. It was a good goal, crafted well and Napoli can have no complaints but they can with the referee.
He was poor at best, giving out yellows for fun and trying to make himself famous. It worked for him. Thanks to his recklessness, Kim would be suspended for the return leg thanks to simply speaking to the ref as would Anguissa who was sent off for two clumsy fouls in the space of four minutes.
The second of which was barely even a foul. Milan won the day due to, good defensive work, excellent goalkeeping from Maignan, poor finishing by Napoli,
and P.E. teacher/referee István Kovács, who for the record wasn’t corrupt, just bad.
Napoli 0-0 Verona
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| Via www.napolike.it |
This game was not important.
Napoli had 80% of the possession and only had one shot on target.
Verona had 20% of the possession and had two shots on target.
Nobody looked good, nobody looked bad.
Champions League Quarter-final 2nd leg
Napoli 1-1 Milan
(A.C. Milan win 2-1 on aggregate)
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| Via www.ntm.ng |
This game was very similar to the first leg in many ways. Napoli would go forward, Milan would withstand the pressure, Napoli wouldn’t be able to put the ball in the net and Milan would then try to catch Napoli on the counter. Giroud scored, what proved to be the decisive goal in this exact manner.
Leão ran more than 70 yards and squared the ball to the Frenchman who a striker of his quality scored a tap-in. Earlier in the game, Giroud had a penalty saved by Meret who had a good game overall which could have been a real turning point in the fixture, but Napoli’s finishing wasn’t there. We had 23 shots on goal, our own penalty saved, and didn’t score until Osimhen’s 93rd-minute headed goal, who was back in the side but not match sharp. and like that,
Napoli’s tremendous run in the Champions League was over.
Juventus 0-1 Napoli
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| Via keepup.com |
Any game against Juventus is a big game for Napoli and this one was no different from previous encounters but this game became VERY different. Before the match, other results had gone in Napoli’s favour meaning they could, in theory, win the title in two games,
and Juve away was the first of these two games.
and Juve away was the first of these two games.
The game overall was quite balanced, Juve did play a starting 11 full of second-string players but with other (winnable) competitions in mind, and this was half-expected before kick-off but the players who came in didn’t do themselves or their club any disservice.
As the game wore on and with Juve’s first team players being substituted into the fray, the game became more and more exciting and the last 10 minutes or so were fantastic. Juve had two late goals disallowed. One for a foul in the build-up (82nd minute) and another ball going out of play (91st minute). The foul was a foul and I think the correct decision was made. It’s the kind of thing that in our post-VAR world every fan has to accept at some point sadly. If it were the other way around Juve fans would feel the same But I am yet to see any clear hawk-eye-like footage to prove without doubt that the second goal should have been disallowed.
Then the show stopper, not three minutes later (93rd minute) Elmas chips a deep and high ball in the box towards the back post where Raspadori hits a powerful volley through the legs of Szczesny, causing pandemonium. The fans and players lose themselves to ecstasy and Napoli are one win and a Lazio draw away from winning the scudetto. The players return to Napoli as heroes and are now all but champions of Italy.
Napoli 1-1 Salernitana
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| Via www.adnkronos.com |
The stage was set. Napoli vs Salernitana.
Regional rivals with little affection for each other. A sold-out San Paolo, on a long weekend,
and the city was ready for the greatest party seen in the South since 1990.
For context, the game was originally due to be played on Saturday afternoon
but it had been moved to the following day.
but it had been moved to the following day.
Allowing Lazio vs Inter to be played first because as mentioned before unless Lazio won, Napoli would only need 3 points to clinch the title in Naples.
Inter Milan won.
Meaning that if Napoli could do the business today the title would be sealed in front of a loving crowd and devoted city.
Meaning that if Napoli could do the business today the title would be sealed in front of a loving crowd and devoted city.
But….
Even though it appeared that Mathias Olivera had brought the Scudetto back to the Partenopei. Boulaye Dia’s fine late equaliser left us upset, deflated but maybe not surprised. The party has only been postponed rather than canceled however it would be brilliant to have won it in style at home. It was just not meant to be.
In conclusion:
Napoli has gone off the boil in quite a dramatic way this past month. They are still winning and drawing games but not in the same way they were at the start or the middle of the season. Since the spring international break swashbuckling Napoli hasn’t really returned. Overall, April has been a disappointing month for the Partenopei but all we need (at least in terms of the title) is patience and time. Patience and time.
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| Via www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it |
