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Victorious four times in the Italian Cup in the last five seasons, Juventus Turin failed Wednesday to win again the competition, by losing on penalties, in the final, against Naples (0-0, 4-2 tab).
In the aftermath of the coronation of Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, football resumes its cruising speed in Europe. Wednesday, June 17, Napoli won the Italian Cup by winning against Juventus Turin in the final (0-0, 4-2 tab), a few days before the resumption of the championship, in which the leadership of the Juve remains fragile.
This is the sixth Naples title in the competition, obtained after a meeting lacking flavor and played behind closed doors due to the sanitary measures put in place to fight against the pandemic due to the coronavirus.
In the first period, the game was often struck, the players of the two teams committing more faults than they created chances.
The first real goal opportunity came after 24 minutes, and was the work of Napoli. On a free kick 25 meters from the cage of Gianluigi Buffon, slightly off-center, Lorenzo Insigne found the left post of the eternal Italian goalkeeper (42 years old).
The pace turned out to be slow until there was a runaway at the end of the first period.
Turinese, first, with an express counter at the end of which Paulo Dybala narrowly missed finding Cristiano Ronaldo in depth (39e).
Neapolitan, then, by Diego Demme, who made his way up to 6 meters (41e), then Lorenzo Insigne, at the entrance to the surface (42e), who stumbled in turn on Buffon’s firm hand.
Despite these few minutes of high intensity, the two teams joined the locker room with a goalless draw.
Almost logical penalties
The second period was, like the first, poor in opportunities. For a long time, the two teams remained harmless. Until the 92e minute, when Napoli almost opened the mark on a corner. A head from Maksimovic stopped by Buffon, first, then a strike from Eljif Elmas ending his race on the upright.
No goals, but shots on goals, therefore, without detour by extra time. Failures of Dybala and Danilo on the Juve side, a faultless for the Neapolitans, and the latter won the trophy.
Beyond the score, the level of play displayed by Juve, leader of Serie A after 26 days, worried, while the Turinese, with 63 points, are seriously challenged this season by Lazio (62 pts), and while the championship resumes this weekend after three months of interruption due to the health crisis.
Whether in defense, where the Bonucci-De Ligt hinge has repeatedly shown flaws, or in attack, where neither Paulo Dybala nor Cristiano Ronaldo were up to the event, the Old Lady disappointed, everything like a week ago in the semi-final return against Milan (0-0, 1-1 first leg).
Conversely, Naples has skilfully played its chance in an encounter that allows it to give a little relief to its season. Sixth in the championship, the Neapolitans are unlikely to qualify for the Champions League, 9 points ahead of them.
The players of Gennaro Gattuso therefore leave with a smile, those of Maurizio Sarri, ex-coach of Naples, with a grimace. Football, it is well started in Italy, and continues from this weekend with the resumption of Serie A.
With AFP
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