Napoli did not find their third consecutive victory, stopped by a spirited Turin but rewarded beyond their merits.
Opposite are two teams who approach the challenge in opposite ways: if on the one hand Torino arrives there in full emergency in the middle of the pitch, missing the highest quality men Ricci and Ilic due to disqualification, the hosts arrive there with a moderate enthusiasm; on the other hand, last week’s spirited victory against Juventus gave Napoli back, if not their health, at least the awareness of being a team, which has often been missing in this sad season. An awareness that had always prevented the Azzurri from achieving a string of consecutive victories capable of putting the reigning champions forward as candidates for a European place, even with the gaps still present.
The search for a third consecutive victory is what drives Napoli today on the pitch against Torino. A search that makes the match enjoyable: the match in fact offers many ideas, between Napoli which continues to search for itself and the lost time from September to February, and a Turin which despite the difficulties does not change its nature: certainly the pair central Gineitis and Linetty certainly doesn’t offer much quality in the middle of the pitch, but offers the muscles and lungs necessary to force the very high pressing with which Juric’s boys face the low, still cumbersome output of the home team;
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Muscles and lungs of the central pair that compensate for the – partial – absence of those of Bellanova, today he seemed to be declining (probably due to tiredness, given that he closed early due to cramps) compared to the last few races. A debt of oxygen that he paid on the occasion of Napoli’s goal, when the powerful counterattack by Mario Rui and Kvaratskhelia gave Napoli the lead. An all in all deserved advantage for the Azzurri, who in the first half – driven by the combinations between the Georgian and Politano – created numerous problems for Torino, saved by a providential Milinkovic-Savic;
Milinkovic-Savic, of course, but obviously Sanabria is the cover man, who only needed a few minutes to find a goal from the cinema with which he brought the match back to a draw. Beyond this, and a nice shot from Zapata saved by Meret in the first half, Torino produced very little, more concerned with not exposing their side to the Azzurri’s counterattacks. A result that is perhaps rather generous towards the Piedmontese, who nevertheless take home a point that is perhaps not very important for the standings, but which gives Juric’s team a big injection of confidence;
From the Maradona pitch, it is Napoli that leaves the biggest stakes, in terms of points and regrets: tonight’s two points, added to all the others in this championship, weigh like a rock in terms of qualifying for the Champions League. Added to the regret for the ranking is the personal one of Kvaratskhelia: today the Georgian in fact gave, goals aside, further proof of his growth not only technically, but also in character. In fact, the number 77, considering an Osimhen in the shadow, well controlled by Buongiorno, took the team on his shoulders, forcefully dragging them to the goal and almost carrying them alone. Proof, if not as a superman, certainly as a footballer of above-average caliber, in this championship and perhaps not only.
2024-03-08 22:21:12
#NapoliTurin #Scattered #Considerations
