Naples, the surprise of the Champions League: this is why the Azzurri are now shaking Europe
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AMSTERDAM – The Dutch know something about spectacle football and in the stadium named after Johan Cruijff they had the instinctive temptation to applaud the Naplesbarely suppressed in the perceptible buzz that went through the stands of the Amsterdam Arena a few minutes before the final whistle, after the sixth goal scored by Cholito Simeone. Never in its international history hasAjax had undergone such a lesson at home and the unfortunate Lancers felt the same sense of helplessness as their colleagues from Liverpool and Rangers Glasgow, mistreated by the Azzurri in similar ways in the previous two matches of Group A. In Champions League the group of Luciano Spalletti drives with the power of a steamroller and boasts after the first 270 ‘of the tournament some terrifying numbers: 9 points, 13 goals scored and just 2 conceded, already enough to put the qualification for the round of 16 and probably (goal difference and direct matches) also the first place in the group. Therefore, the conditions could also be created for an easier draw, when it will be time in spring to enter the highlight of the event.
Ajax-Napoli report cards: Tadic lost, Lobotka looks like Iniesta
by our correspondent Marco Azzi
Napoli, big numbers in the Champions League
Napoli in its history has never managed to reach the quarters: Pillars of Hercules between an honorable participation and the horizon of glory. But the sprint start of the Azzurri in this edition of the Champions League opens wide in front of the club De Laurentiis unexpected and potentially boundless horizons. In fact, the president did not exaggerate by calling his team “cosmic” at the end of the show on Tuesday night in the stadium named after Johan Cruijff. Six goals, a crossbar and 26 shots towards the opponent’s goal are numbers that in Europe usually belong only to battleships such as Bayern, Real Madrid, Manchester City, which will now begin to throw an eye on the overbearing rise of Spalletti’s group: to understand if it is really one more customer – inconvenient and unexpected – to deal with.
Napoli, 6 goals for Ajax: the stadium sings “In the blue painted blue”
Osimhen’s absence was not felt
The time will tell where this Napoli can really get to in Europe, but the recent history of the Champions League teaches that there may be room for some outsiders, if only up to the almost impassable barrier of the semifinals. Much will depend on the Azzurri’s ability to extend their current state of grace for the rest of the season, with the additional unknown factor of the long autumn break for the World Cup in Qatar, which however represents an unknown factor for everyone. But Spalletti has a deep and quality staff, capable of with ease the long absence due to injury of Victor Osimhen, which will be available again on Sunday in Cremona. Without him, however, still five of their last seven consecutive victories, including international ones against Rangers and Ajax, have come in two temples of continental football.
Napoli, Spalletti: “Great, but we’re already thinking about the next one”. De Laurentiis: “Cosmic match”
Napoli, Champions midfield
Napoli – which today made official the renewal of Meret until 2024 (with an option in favor of the club for another season) – he is also making headlines abroad and now it is clearer to everyone that the goal against the Liverpool vice champions was not an occasional one. Spalletti has an iron defense despite the farewell of Koulibalywell replaced with Korean Kim. The back department was also strengthened with Oliveraexcellent alternative to Mario Rui at the Amsterdam Arena. But above all the performance of the midfield has been super so far, with Anguissa, Lobotka And Zielinski at very high levels e Ndombele behind them in constant growth. It is also thanks to them that the Azzurri forwards score repeatedly, with Raspadori And Simeone who invented the relay for the goal in the absence of Oshimen. Finally there is the icing on the cake of Kvaratskheliawho unlocked himself in the Champions League after 5 goals in Serie A. The Georgian is the symbol of an unscrupulous and hungry group, destined to scare everyone at this rate.
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