Udinese-Napoli: video highlights and highlights from Monday, May 6, 2024 Serie A evening match, with moviola episodes and report cards.
Napoli, with its head already set on next season, arrives in Friuli to take on Udinese, a team in the hunt for crucial points to stay in Serie A. The Bianconeri are currently third last and come from a long period without victories. The Azzurri, ninth, have now given up hope of achieving a place in Europe.
Calzona got back Victor Osimhen, who had stopped during the week due to minor discomfort. The Nigerian plays in attack with Politano and Lindstrom. However, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Gollini and Zielinski turn out to be unavailable. Juan Jesus, not 100 percent, Mario Rui and Simeone are on the bench.
The coach of the Bianconeri, namely former Italian Fabio Cannavaro, relaunches Samardzic, deployed with Brenner behind Lucca. The scheme is a 3-4-2-1, with the defense formed by Bijol in the center and Ferreira and Kristensen on either side.
Highlights of the challenge
The Bianconeri contain the partenopei in the first minutes. Napoli pushes but without finding outlets. The match then becomes more balanced and very tactical. Few emotions in the first half, except for a Samardzic conclusion that came in the 34′ minute: the trequartista attempts a shot on the turn but Meret is not fooled by the trajectory.
Napoli enters the field much more convinced in the second half. Cajuste immediately tried, calling Okoye to a two-stroke save, then in 51′ Osimhen went for goal with one of his headers: the Nigerian pierced his compatriot Okoye on an assist from Politano. Udinese responded in 60′ with a deflected attempt by Success. A minute later Davis put Meret in trouble, but the ball did not go in. After less than 10 minutes, the Udinese goalkeeper anticipates Osimhen with a decisive intervention. Napoli tries to put the game to sleep with prolonged ball possession. Then suddenly Lobotka serves Osimhen the ball of 2-0 and the striker does not miss: Napoli doubles in the 80th minute, but VAR communicates that there is offside.
The final flames up. Udinese pushes to find the equalizer and the right opportunity comes only as time expires: Samardzic serves Kristensen who works an excellent pass for Success. The newcomer surprises Meret and signs the equalizer.
Table and report cards of Udinese-Napoli
UDINESE (3-4-2-1): Okoye; Ferreira, Bijol, Kristensen; Ehizibue (70′, Ebosele), Walace, Zarraga, Kamara (87′, Zemura); Brenner (53′, Success), Samardzic; Lucca (53′, Davis). All: Cannavaro
NAPOLI (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Ostigard, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, Cajuste (73′, Traorè); Politano, Osimhen (87′, Simeone), Lindstrom (82′, Ngonge). All: Calzona.
REFEREE: Aureliano of Bologna.
MARKERS: 51′, Osimhen; 92′, Success
NOTES: Admonished: : Recovery: 5′
Best on the field is Victor Osimhen: at the first useful ball, the Nigerian scores, then spends a lot of time pressing and trying to get the team up (7). Good performance by Cajuste: one of the most positive in the Parthenopean midfield (6.5). In Udinese Davis gives liveliness to the attack after Lucca’s exit (6.5). Lucca’s game, however, is below sufficient: he never makes himself dangerous (5.5).
The worst in Udinese is Ferreira, listless in marking and inaccurate in construction (4.5). The least proactive in Napoli, on the other hand, is Rrhamani (5). Lindstrom also does not play a game that lives up to expectations: he creates little and rarely gets past a man (5). Meret does his duty by neutralizing two dangerous chances by the Bianconeri (6.5). Anguissa is slow and often late (5.5). On the other side, however, Walace plays with intensity (6.5). Samardzic, Davis and Success come alive especially in the final (6.5).
Moviola and highlights of the match
The referee does not award a penalty to Napoli after a slightly too vehement exit by Okoye on Osimhen at 68′: the Parthenopeans protest, but there seems to be no foul. Rrahmani misses a yellow.
