Napoli finds Maradona but loses in a friendly against Villareal

The coexistence between Raspadori and Osimhen is insisted on, this time in a 4-2-3-1. The first idea comes from Kvara who invents a ball to inspire the Nigerian centre-forward’s deep attack, on the rebound there is Raspadori who misses the goal from the edge of the area. Villarreal reacts and breaks above all on the right but Napoli keeps a good guard even inside their own penalty area, in the 8th minute Di Lorenzo’s intervention at the far post is providential. The Spaniards took the lead in the 12th minute with a beautiful action that cut across the pitch, Yeremi Pino widened for Mojica on the left, Capoue came in tow and after a shot by Collado rejected by Mario Rui beat Meret. The Spanish advantage does not last long, Yeremi Pino misses the measure of the back pass and sends Osimhen towards his goal, the Nigerian center forward beats Reina. At 17” Elmas calls for a penalty kick after a contact, the referee Dionisi makes a showy sign to continue the action. Villarreal, when they manage to get back up the field, know how to make Napoli anxious, Collado shoots from a good position after an action developed on the right chain, Juan Jesus’ deflection is essential. In the 28th minute Napoli responded with a good action in the strait, Mario Rui chose not to shoot but to send the ball back to the centre, Kvara slipped and was unable to shoot with Osimhen ready behind him. Kvaratskhelia tries to intercept a pass from Albiol, Reina comes out on the rebound and makes him the ball. Napoli sometimes gets complicated in managing ball possession, in the 30” Elmas puts Di Lorenzo in difficulty, Villarreal restarts with Yeremi Pino and Jackson, Elmas’ recovery is providential. Mario Rui is one of the best on the pitch, when Villarreal with the build from below cuts Napoli in the center, it is the blue left-back who dampens the danger in the slide.

The Kvara-Osimhen axis sometimes lights up, the Georgian makes the verticalization, the ball is slightly long for Osimhen. In the 44th minute Capoue comes close to scoring twice, a volley from the left after a free-kick deflected off the wall, Meret stretches out and deflects the ball for a corner kick. At half-time, Napoli vice-president Edoardo De Laurentiis awarded Albiol and Reina with special shirts in their honour. “It’s always wonderful to come back here, it’s been four wonderful years that will always remain in my heart and that of my family”, declared Reina, Albiol increased his affection: “It was a dream to return to this stadium, with these people, It’s the first time I’ve been here since I left. Forza Napoli always”.

Spalletti made two substitutions at half-time: Gaetano and Zerbin enter for Ndombele and Elmas. The first attempt in the second half came from Alex Baena, his shot from distance going high. In the 49th minute Morlanes tries, the conclusion is central, Meret blocks. Capoue is confident, his shot is the most dangerous, it ends just wide. In the 56th minute, Villarreal attacked on the right side of the penalty area, with Alex Baena’s low cross missing. After an hour of play, Spalletti made three more substitutions: Demme, Zanoli and Simeone entered for Lobotka, Juan Jesus and Osimhen. Di Lorenzo goes into central defense to partner Ostigard. In the 63rd minute Di Lorenzo makes a mistake in the first build, Jackson takes advantage of it who advances and goes for a shot that goes high. Villarreal’s goal came in the 66th minute, the Napoli defensive line was punctured by a vertical ball from Alex Baena, Jackson attacked the space who faced Di Lorenzo one-on-one, moved the ball to the left and beat Meret. Villarreal takes the 3-1 lead in the 69th minute, an incorrect back pass by Demme which inspires the action of Yeremi Pino who face to face with Meret gives the ball to Gerard Moreno who scores the Spanish trio. In the 72nd minute two more changes: Barba and Zedadka enter for Di Lorenzo and Raspadori. Many substitutions also for Quique Setien who changes the face of the team. In the 77th minute Zerbin gets himself a penalty, he is hooked by Sanchez Marcos. Kvaratskhelia goes from the penalty spot and shortens the distance. Napoli tries to equalize, in the 82nd minute Zanoli crosses from the right, the Villarreal defense intervenes. In the 84th minute Kvaratskhelia tries, the shot is deflected out. In the 85th minute Marchisano (born in 2004) from the Primavera side also replaced Mario Rui. In the 86th minute Villarreal was seen again missing the knockout blow: Danjuma hit the outside post from a good position. It ends 3-2, the appointment is on Wednesday for the match against Lille, the last test before the restart.

The Corriere del Mezzogiorno newsletter

If you want to stay updated on the news of Campania, subscribe for free to the Corriere del Mezzogiorno newsletter. Arrives daily straight to your inbox at 12 noon. Just click here.