Naples, new proposals but packed legs: 1-1 in the test against Spal

Dimaro – No copy and paste from Spalletti. Rudi Garcia’s hand can already be seen in the Napoli game, even if the first test with Spal ended with a far from brilliant draw (1-1). But the packed legs, the field flooded by a storm and the approximate conditions of the big names suggest waiting for the next tests. If anything, the Azzurri are worried about the injuries of Mario Rui and Lobotka, to be evaluated. The happy notes are instead the desire shown by Osimhen and the quality of the game exhibited despite everything by the Italian champions in the second half. There have been changes of form during the race, nice triangulations low to the ground and a few too many affectations, on which the French coach will have to work.

Naples Work in progress

Work in progress, as is normal. The Azzurri need to put fuel in their legs and as expected Garcia therefore sent two completely different formations onto the field during the 90′: with the second lines on the field in the first half and the big names in the second half. But the match against Spal – despite the pouring rain and the slippery lawn – gave the same interesting ideas right from the start, with Napoli alternating the usual 4-3-3 with 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-1-1 in the attacking phase. The goal didn’t arrive due to the imprecise aiming of Politano and Folorunsho and to an excellent intervention by goalkeeper Alfonso on Simeone (23′), who was freed from the shot by Zanoli’s overwhelming percussion. However, the real regret was due to the muscle injury which after half an hour knocked out Mario Rui, who was replaced by Olivera.

Osimhen’s desire

The workloads were inevitably felt and close to the break the team dropped, even if Politano failed in the scissors kick another chance to break the deadlock. No danger on the other side for goalkeeper Gollini and only applause from the stands, especially when Osimhen, Kavaratskhelia, Di Lorenzo, Anguissa and Lobotka got off the bench.

Anguissa draw

The quality of Napoli’s maneuver immediately increased and so did the speed in the ball lap. But the result did not unlock due to inaccurate shooting by Kvaratskhelia (9′, chipped crossbar following an assist from Osimhen) and Raspadori. Instead, Spal suddenly found the goal, with Puletto (17 ‘) who surprised Meret off the posts and mocked him by sending a free-kick into the net almost from halfway through. Anguissa’s draw (28’) instead came at the end of a splendid action: a feint by Osimhem, an assist by Zielinski and finally a winning position by the Cameroon midfielder.

The finale took place under a storm and with some excess of competition from the Emilian players, with Meret redeeming himself with a good save. The last assaults of Raspadori and Kvara were in vain. More than the 1-1, however, it was Lobotka’s injury (the second of the afternoon) that triggered the alarm. Garcia already has a lot of material to analyze.