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Regardless of the opponent’s modesty, Gattuso’s team showed unusual determination. Well, Zielinski (two goals), Lozano and Insigne (one goal each)
Clear and forceful victory for Napoli. At last. After three negative results in a row, with an excellent performance at Inter and two bad games against Lazio and Turin, Napoli beat Cagliari 4-1. Well deserved victory. Even if there was no lack of empty passage it could have been expensive: the Sardinian draw in the second half, after a first-leg goal from Zielinski. But Gattuso’s team reacted promptly to Joao Pedro’s goal and within five minutes they not only went ahead again (again Piotr), then they were left with an extra man for a double yellow card from Lykogiannis who went crazy with Lozano. And finally he scored with the Mexican and with Insigne finally from a penalty.
The star of the match was Zielinski. He scored a double. Very nice first goal, to Zielinski, with an unstoppable left under the crossbar. In the second half, he was skillful facing the goal. This time the Pole showed his technical repertoire. We’ve always known, he’s a potentially very strong player, but too often he doesn’t live up to expectations. Insigne, who played all over the pitch, was also very good, as was Lozano who missed a few more goals in the second half but with his accelerations constantly put the Cagliari defense in crisis.
It was one of the most attentive games for Gattuso’s Napoli. Played with intensity and concentration. 2021 gave us an unusual Napoli considering the latest performances against Lazio and Turin. Napoli always with the head in the game. The turning point was seen immediately: Zielinski went to the shot after just one minute of play. Napoli was very low, always able to put in difficulties to the not transcendental Cagliari. It was played with one goal for most of the first half. The goal came at 25, with a shot by Zielinski from outside, but it could have come even earlier if Napoli had been more lucid in the last pass. Or more luck on some occasions, like Insigne’s shot from the edge of the area.
Obviously you have to take into account the rival and Di Francesco’s Cagliari is definitely weaker than Napoli. Both on paper and in the field. Sardinian training is modest. What caught the attention was the determination of Napoli that did not yield an inch. He played with unusual intensity. As if he wanted and had to prove something, first of all himself. Sardinians have hardly ever become dangerous. Simeone’s only shot in the first half was driven by a false pass from Napoli. Then there was a high header from Joao Pedro served deliciously by Pereiro. For the rest, it was a solo from Gattuso’s team. At the end of the first half the number of shots was: 16 to 6 for the Azzurri, 5 for the goal against 0 for the Sardinians.
The most interesting thing, now that the game is over and there is no fear, is that Naples has also known how to react to adversity. Without blinking, he picked up the Sardinian draw – in one of the rare offensive forays – and resumed play as if nothing had happened.
It is the mental metamorphosis that authorizes a certain optimism also for the rest of the tournament, given that Gattuso’s team has a positive schedule ahead. Cagliari played with many absent players, but also Napoli. Even without Koulibaly, Mertens and Osimhen who, just before kick-off, officially apologized for the lightness of the trip to Nigeria and the birthday party. Today the championship has made the return of Atalanta official, which plunged Sassuolo 5-1, and also beat Roma (1-0 in Sampdoria). But there was also the victory of Napoli, which is fourth in the standings with a game to recover. Atalanta also has to recover.
2021 has started very well, regardless of the opponent’s modesty. He looked like a Napoli on the ball and in the piece, to put it on Gattuso. Definitely far from the distracted and soulless team of late 2020.
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