NAPLES. Napoli wins the first of the three finals that from now to the end of the championship will be able to lead them, in the event of a row of successes, to qualify for the Champions League next year. The 5-1 victory over Udinese is very clear and confirms the excellent form of Gattuso’s team.
The grafts of Bakayoko and Lozano, respectively in place of Demme and Politano, compared to the team that took to the field in La Spezia last Saturday, do not change the balance of the hosts who never leave room for the opponent. Okaka’s goal, born from an isolated idea of the Friulian striker, is the only noteworthy offensive figure for Gotti’s team.
Udinese defends itself with order and takes advantage of the temperament and physical power of its men, especially in defense to contain the blues’ offensives. Napoli attacks with the usual dense triangulations that start from the midfield in which Ruiz and Bakaioko almost always manage to get the upper hand on the opponents and unfold at the limits of the penalty area, where the three support forwards and the first striker Osimhen turn the ball quickly, in search of the opening of the right passage.
The Azzurri find the goal of the advantage in the 28th minute thanks to a cue from Osimehn who gets rid of Bonifazi and ends on goal. Musso deflects the ball with one foot that Zielinski replies at the bottom of the net. Only two minutes pass and Gattuso’s team doubles thanks to a personal inspiration from Ruiz who adjusts the ball at the edge of the penalty area and bags with a shot at the far post.
Udinese’s reaction is not particularly vehement. Gotti’s team, however, found the goal in the 40th minute with Okaka freeing himself from Manolas’ marking and finishing at the net with a half-height diagonal. In the second half, the higher technical caliber of the home team and the state of form of the blues determine a difference in performance between the two teams that leaves no chance for the bianconeri. Napoli puts the result in safety at 11 ‘with Lozano who uses a rash pass by Musso for De Paul, takes possession of the ball and bags with a shot just deflected by the Udine goalkeeper.
Another 9 ‘passed and the Azzurri still hit the target with Di Lorenzo who took advantage of a short rejected by Musso on a header by Manolas. The game at this point can be said to be over. The coaches make a series of changes and the pace fades. There is a final and definitive gasp just at the end of time when Insigne, taking advantage of a rebound on the edge of the penalty area, bags with a powerful right-footed shot. Napoli’s run towards qualification for the Champions League continues with a sure footing.