Napoli secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Fiorentina at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, but the Serie A champions were dealt another injury blow as Giovanni Di Lorenzo was forced off the field. Antonio Conte’s squad, already stretched thin, now face mounting fitness concerns.
Vergara Breaks the Deadlock Early
The match started brightly for Napoli, with Antonio Vergara opening the scoring in the 11th minute. Racing past the Fiorentina defence, Vergara calmly slotted a low finish from the edge of the box to give the hosts the lead. Rasmus Hojlund nearly doubled the advantage, but a last-ditch clearance denied the Dane’s clever back-heel attempt.
Di Lorenzo Injured
Napoli’s defensive woes worsened when Giovanni Di Lorenzo went down clutching his knee and had to be stretchered off. The injury added to an already lengthy list that includes Kevin De Bruyne, David Neres, Billy Gilmour, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, and Matteo Politano.
Gutierrez Doubles Napoli’s Lead
Just four minutes after the restart, Miguel Gutierrez scored Napoli’s second goal with a curling shot from a tight angle, giving the home side a comfortable advantage. Fiorentina, however, were not finished and fought back.
Fiorentina Pull One Back
In the 57th minute, Dodo threaded a through ball to Roberto Piccoli, who tried to chip Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret. Meret parried the shot, but Manor Solomon was on hand to pounce on the loose ball and reduce the deficit to 2-1.
Napoli Hold On Amid Injuries
Despite their injury struggles, Napoli managed to hold on for the win, moving to third place in Serie A with 46 points, six behind leaders Inter Milan. Fiorentina remain in 18th, unable to capitalize on Napoli’s weakened squad.
Conte expressed concern over the relentless schedule, warning that the constant fixture demands are taking a toll on his players. Nonetheless, Napoli demonstrated resilience to claim three valuable points in challenging circumstances.