Home » Sport » Serie A, Napoli-Spal 3-1: Mertens and Callejon super, Rome is closer | News

Serie A, Napoli-Spal 3-1: Mertens and Callejon super, Rome is closer | News

All easy for the Naples against the Sleep in the match valid for the 28th day of Serie A. A 3-1 net for the team of Gattuso thanks to the play of the three tenors Mertens, Insigne and Callejon. The Belgian finds the goal after just three minutes, then the Spaniard has find the new advantage (37 ‘) after the momentary tie of Petagna (29 ‘). In the second half, at a slow pace, the Neapolitans administer and close the accounts with Younes (78′).

This Napoli runs and wins the fifth consecutive championship victory, which has not happened since February 2018. Certainly thanks to Gattuso who gave the team a new identity. He compacted the group and then worked on the tactics. Aggression as in its nature, but also a lot of quality thanks to the characteristics of its players. It was seen in the first half when there was a real blue domain interspersed with a flash of Petagna. A carelessness, a slag from the past. One of those that condemn the Neapolitans in the standings: the -12 from fourth place of Atalanta is a pitiless photograph for this Naples. Detachment almost unbridgeable given the pace of those in front.

All easy in the San Paolo desert with the usual suspects in the first 45 ‘and the “new faces” in the second half. The former built, the latter administered and put themselves on display: everyone is needed given the close efforts and the great heat that is hitting Italy. Mertens it took him three minutes to unlock the match with a sumptuous action across the board. All too simple the touch underneath to burn Letica after the excellent pit on passage inside Fabian. So much play and ball possession to be in full control of the match until 29 ‘when Insigne’s goal and goal Petagna, the next purchase of Gattuso’s team, have brought back the ghosts of the past. Ghosts swept away by Callejon (he will not be in the future) with another noteworthy play. Absent justified to the scoreboard only Insigne mocked in the 47th minute, after having slipped the ball into the net, from a millimeter offside of Mertens.

In the second half, rhythms as predictable and swirling of changes to make room for everyone: Lozano had taken advantage of the opportunity in Verona, today Younes, who at the first ball touched (head) made the evening drop on the match. The darkness for Spal which remains last with Brescia at 18 points. A result that smacks of condemnation even if Di BIagio’s team can leave San Paolo with their heads held high.

The report cards

Mertens 7 – A velvety touch to immediately put the match downhill, then the usual plays worthy of its repertoire. The movements are always the same, but crucial in the Napoli maneuver.

Badge 6.5 – He only needs the goal. Matter of centimeters, twice. First the pole to Letica beaten, then that offside signaled to Mertens through Var after the ball had finished in the net. He comes out halfway through, with a puzzled face, only because of the turnover and the heat.

Petagna 6.5 – In his next home, the San Paolo, he scares Gattuso. A playable ball and a goal: Petagna bomber has left the business card, goodbye in mid-August. In blue shirt.

Callejon 6,5 – The third of the Neapolitan tenors unlocks and scores the winning goal. Classic pendulum on the left wing, it grinds km on km and always snaps on the offside. Next year will be missed.

Fabian Ruiz 7 – Brain in midfield. He sorts balls and gives assists to his teammates, two today. The Spaniard raises the bar and is constantly growing.

THE TABLE

NAPLES-SPAL 3-1
Napoli (4-3-3): Meret 6; Hysaj 6.5, Maksimovic 6, Koulibaly 6 (35 ‘st Manolas sv), Mario Rui 6 (35’ st Ghoulam sv); Fabian 7, Lobotka, Elmas 6.5; Callejon 6.5 (31 ‘st Younes 7), Mertens 7 (19’ st Milik 6), Insigne 6.5 (19 ‘st Lozano 6.5). Available: Ospina, Karnezis, Demme, Luperto, Zielinski, Politano, Di Lorenzo. All.: Gattuso 7
Spal (4-4-2): Letica 5; Cionek 5.5, Vicari 5.5, Felipe 5.5, Reca 5 (1 ‘st Valoti 6); Murgia 5.5 (30 ‘st Dabo sv), Missiroli 5.5, Fares 6; Strefezza 5.5 (30 ‘st D’Alessandro sv), Petagna 6.5 (35’ st Floccari sv), Cerri 5.5. Available: Thiam, Meneghetti, Valdifiori, Castro, Sala, Tomovic, Bonifazi, D’Alessandro, Tunjov. All.: Di Biagio 6
Referee: Pairet
Markers: 3′ Mertens (N), 29′ Petagna (S), 37′ Callejon (N), 33′ st Younes (N)
AmmonitesStrategy, fares, Felipe (S)
Expelled: –

THE STATISTICS
Since the return of SPAL in Serie A in the 2017/18 season, only two coaches have met the Ferrarese at least three times in the competition always getting the three points: Gennaro Gattuso and Maurizio Sarri.

Napoli have won five consecutive league games for the first time since February 2018, under the guidance of Maurizio Sarri.

Andrea Petagna is the player who scored the highest percentage of his team’s goals in the top-5 European championships 2019/20 (57%, 12 out of 21 of the SPAL).

All the last four goals of SPAL in Serie A have been scored by Petagna.

Dries Mertens scored his 91st goal in Serie A, however this was only the second made by the Belgian during the first 5 minutes of play (the first against Cagliari in 2017).

SPAL is the 26th team against which Mertens has scored the goal in Serie A, out of the 30 faced in the competition.

José Callejón found the goal in a Serie A match in which he started as a starter, after 18 games from the first minute of fasting.

SPAL is the 13th team in the history of the single-round Serie A that has lost 20 or more games in the first 28 games of a single championship: only one of the previous 12 was saved at the end of the tournament, Crotone in 2016/17.

Amin Younes found the goal 58 seconds after joining the pitch. The German player has not found the Serie A goal since April 2019 against Frosinone.

Lorenzo Insigne recorded his 200th victory with the Napoli shirt, considering all the competitions. José Callejón, on the other hand, achieved his 150th success in the top Italian championship.

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