Empoli –
Napoli fell 0-1 from Empoli in week 33 A league. This defeat makes it difficult for the Partenopei to qualify for the Champions League next season.
At the Carlo Castellani Stadium, Saturday (20/4/2024), the hosts immediately took the lead quickly in the 4th minute. Emmanuel Gyasi’s cross from the right side was completed by Alberto Cerri with a header into the left corner of the goal which Alex Meret couldn’t reach.
Alberto Cerri (left) celebrates his goal against Napoli. Photo: Getty Images/Gabriele Maltinti
Winning by one goal did not make Empoli slack off. Jacopo Fazzini had a chance in the 17th minute, but his long-range shot went off target. Likewise with his header in the 29th minute which went wide on the right side of the goal.
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Victor Osimhen tried to equalize the score in the 31st minute, but his close-range shot was saved by goalkeeper Elia Caprile. The score 1-0 for Empoli lasted until halftime.
In the second half, Napoli tried to lock up Empoli in order to score a goal. Ball possession reached more than 70 percent. However, only one chance came from Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s shot in the 48th minute, which went over the goal.
After that, the Partenopei had difficulty breaking down Empoli’s defense. It was recorded that six attempts were blocked by the host’s defenders throughout the second half. This frustrates the opponent. Even the entry of Giovanni Simeone did not change the situation.
Empoli successfully maintained a 1-0 lead until the match was over. An additional three points makes them sit in 15th place with 31 points. Meanwhile, Napoli are stuck in eighth place with 49 points, six points behind AS Roma who are in fifth place, or the bottom limit of the Champions League zone for Serie A.
Lineup
Empoli: Elia Caprile, Bartosz Bereszynski, Sebastian Walukiewicz, Sebastiano Luperto, Emmanuel Gyasi, Alberto Grassi (Simone Bastoni 82′), Youssef Maleh, Giuseppe Pezzella (Liberato Cacace 82′), Jacopo Fazzini (Szymon Zurkowski 70′), Nicolo Cambiaghi (Matteo Cancellieri 70′), Alberto Cerri (M’Baye Niang 20′).
NapoliAlex Meret, Nathan (Pasquale Mazzocchi 46′), Juan Jesus, Leo Ostigard, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Piotr Zielinski, Stanislav Lobotka, Frank Anguissa (Giovanni Simeone 89′), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Giacomo Raspadori 72′), Victor Osimhen and Matteo Politano (Cyril Ngonge 72′).
(adp/ran)