Stadio Castellani Empoli-Napoli 1-0, three very important points for the Tuscans in terms of salvation.
Nicola’s men rise to 31 in fifteenth position, temporarily +4 from the relegation zone. Partenopei stopped at 49 points, eighth in the standings and out of Europe.
Nicola’s men start sprinting who took the lead with Cerri in the 4th minute and applied excellent pressure, putting the Italian champions in difficulty throughout the first half and coming close to doubling their lead in the 35th minute with Cambiaghi hitting the outside of the post. Napoli gets into gear slowly and only threatens on a couple of occasions.
In the second half Napoli builds a lot of play but lacks in the final phase. Empoli, well positioned in defense, resists and becomes dangerous in the counterattacks. After 4 minutes of injury time, the final whistle arrives which decrees Empoli’s very precious victory for their stay in the top division also next season.
The Tuscans were looking for heavy points, salvation points to move away from the hot zones, while the Neapolitans tried to get back into the running for a European placement, which at this point in the Champions League was almost impossible. In the first leg, played at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, Empoli won 1-0.
Davide Nicola’s team on the 32nd matchday they lost away to Lecce.
The Neapolitans had drawn 2-2 at home against Frosinone in the last round.
The official lineups
EMPOLI (3-4-2-1): Caprile; Bereszyński, Walukiewicz, Luperto; Gyasi, Grassi, Maleh, Pezzella; Fazzini, Cambiaghi; Cerri. All. Nicola
NAPOLI (4-3-3): Merit; Di Lawrence, Ostigard, John Jesus, Nathan; Anxiety, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Quartermaster. All. Panties
Manganiello di Pinerolo refereed; assistants: Del Giovane-Liberti. IV Man: Barons. VAR: Di Paolo-Abisso
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The Carlo Castellani stadium in Empoli
The match
Empoli’s lightning-fast start who took the lead in the 4th minute with Cerri. Gyasi goes away to the right, exchanges with Fazzini and then from the back puts it softly to the far post, where he heads Cerri away to beat Meret.
The guests took a good ten minutes 10′ to be able to organize and try to flush out Empoli by building from the bottom, but Nicola’s team presses intelligently.
At 20′ Cerri comes out supported by members of the medical staff, inside Niang. The scorer of the Tuscan lead, a minute earlier, had remained on the ground after falling badly following a defensive intervention.
At 23′ the first dangerous action of Naples. Kvaratskhelia wins the one-on-one and shoots at the near post by Caprile who blocks with his feet.
The Tuscans try to cause difficulties the Neapolitans with rapid restarts.
In the 31st minute Napoli were dangerous with Osimhen in the overhead kick, Caprile saves safely.
Empoli almost doubled their lead in the 35th minute. Penetration by Niang who slots in for Cambiaghi who hits the outside of the post with a left foot from a good position.
Nicola’s men are still dangerous in the 38th minute, Fazzini passes backwards for Cambiaghi who doesn’t shoot well while running: a high shot.
In the 44th minute Napoli tries to spread to the left but the throw to Kvaratskhelia is too long.
After a minute of added time the first half ends at Castellani.
In the second half the Neapolitans they try to be more proactive in the first half of the match.
In the second half the Neapolitans they try to be more proactive in the first half of the match.
In the 50th minute Napoli builds an offensive action with Politano who converges towards the center and shoots: shot deflected for a corner.
Politano himself insists and in the 59th minute he kicked on goal from a free kick from the left: Caprile blocked with his fists and then was fouled by Ostigard.
Game time is over Calzona’s team is all focused on attack; Empoli awaits the restarts with the speed of Niang and Cambiaghi.
In the 67th minute Zielinski sends Kvaratskhelia running who jumps a man and kicks with his left foot: deviation into a corner kick.
Niang makes way for Raspadori in the 72nd minute in the ranks of the Neapolitans.
In the 75th minute, defensive intervention by Luperto who anticipates Osimhen on a ball thrown by Maleh.
In the last minutes of the game Napoli tries to raise the pace but without much conviction.
After four minutes of rThe final whistle arrives with the result 1-0 for Empoli.
With this success the team coached by Nicola rises to fifteenth place, temporarily extending their lead over third-last Frosinone to four points.