Napoli responds "present" to the first major official appointment of the year. The double challenge against Nice is worth nothing less than access to the groups of the Champions League, the European football championship. Failing it would mean nullifying the excellent Serie A championship played last year and if it is true that those who start well are half done, the Neapolitans have put a serious mortgage on the passage of the round. The match played yesterday at the San Paolo stadium against the strong Nice ends 2-0 with goals at 13 'of the usual Mertens and at 70' on a penalty by Jorginho.
Even recognizing an objective superiority of Sarri's team compared to the valid staff of the French club, it was not so obvious at this stage of the season, confirming the expectations of the "bookmakers", Naples nevertheless succeeded in beating the opponents 2-0 and putting himself in the position of being able to face the return match with a little more tranquility.
Sarri will certainly be satisfied with the game expressed by his boys who managed to keep a great pace for most of the game, managing to impose practically absolute ball possession and for the myriad of goal actions created. The only flaw, if we really want to look for one, is the lack of cynical streak of the Azzurri who deserved to close this first "set", to use a tennis term, with a definitely more rounded result that would have effectively closed the qualification issue.
Sarri relies on the historic nucleus of Naples and raises a trident without first goals with Insigne, Mertens and Callejon arming defense with Koulibaly and Albiol Central and Ghoulam and Hysaj on the bands.
Napoli dominates and creates superiority in every area of the pitch, Nice tries not to take them and tries to take advantage of some space provided by Sarri's team, but the blues are attentive at the stage of not possessing and they do not grant virtually nothing.
Napoli seems unleashed. Hamsik, Mertens, Insigne and Callejon, who head out from a few meters away from the goal, are close to the goal, they are the first alarm bells for Nice that in fact capitulates at 13 'when Mertens snaps behind the Nice defenders bypasses Cardinal and deposits in network. Despite the goal of the advantage, Napoli continues to create repetitive chances, but the first half ends on the result of 1-0.
The resumption starts with the same intensity, Napoli wants to close the match, but Nice is able to withstand less than the first time and even takes advantage of some space left by Napoli without success. Napoli takes ten minutes to regain the game, but the script seems to be the same as the first time with goal goals built in quantity but not achieved until the deserved goals of doubling.
Beautiful exchange between Hamsik and Insigne, the playmaker is about to enter the penalty area and is put down by Jallet, for the referee it is a penalty kick and Jorginho makes no mistake, securing the result.
Ten minutes from the end Nice tries to make a "harakiri" and remains in 9 for a double red card waved before Koziello guilty of a bad foul on Zielinski and Sarri tries to exploit the double numerical superiority by letting Milik enter in place of Mertens for lock up the qualification, but Nice manages to defend themselves with their teeth to try to remain clinging to a slight possibility of qualification that would have completely vanished in the event of a heavier passive. In the end, it will be the Pole who will miss the 3-0 goal that would have effectively closed the qualification issue. Napoli despite having deserved a larger victory cannot go beyond 2-0, but Sarri can still be satisfied with the answers provided by his team which has shown that it is there and still has a Champions qualification in hand from which not you can and should not ignore. Immediately after Plea, who has already been warned, protests lively for the expulsion of his teammate. Sarri tries to take advantage of the double numerical superiority by letting Milik in place of Mertens to secure the qualification, but Nice manages to defend themselves with their teeth to try to hold on to a slight possibility of qualification that would have completely vanished in the event of a heavier passive. In the end, it will be the Pole who will miss the 3-0 goal that would have effectively closed the qualification issue. Napoli despite having deserved a larger victory cannot go beyond 2-0, but Sarri can still be satisfied with the answers provided by his team which has shown that it is there and still has a Champions qualification in hand from which not it can and should not be ignored.
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Photo The Republic