Simeone and Zerbin rule in the desert
Reading the 3-0 scoreline in the Naples-Fiorentina match, you would think that the Azzurri had returned to the spectacular football with which they dominated Serie A last season. This is wrong: Mazzarri’s men earned their place in the Super Cup final in Riyadh (playing at a nearly empty Al Awwal Park: there will be controversy) with a defensive but organized and effective stance. The Italian decided to abandon his predecessor’s 4-3-3 formation, which he had tried unsuccessfully to imitate, and returned to the back three with which he made history at Vesuvius more than a decade ago. He had to suffer, but it worked.
Without Osimhen, Anguissa (in the African Cup), Mere, Nathan and Olivera (injured), the Neapolitans began to adapt Di Lorenzo as a central defender and with Simeone accompanied by Kvaratskhelia and Politano in attack. The Argentine confirmed that having him as a reserve is a huge luxury. After nine goals in 765 minutes last year, he scored his third goal this season in just 540 minutes. in greenery. The Argentine received an excellent pass from Juan Jesus, entered the penalty area and brought down Terracciano with an accurate cross.
Fiorentina, who started with a 4-2-3-1 offensive formation, maintained possession for most of the match (finishing with 60%) but squandered the best chances they had, all before the break. Martinez Cuarta hit the post (Beltran was offside in the same game) and Ikone, having converted a penalty against Mario Rui, unsuccessfully shot wide of the goal.
In the second half, Napoli decided to defend, giving away an exchange to Kwara in the 72nd minute and waiting for Viola, who created almost no danger. Mazzarri’s bus was efficient and his team grew in the final stretch. completed the job thanks to Zerbin, who entered the field in the 81st minute due to Mazzocchi’s injury and lived for about 10 minutes that he will never forget.
An Italian who, if there are no surprises, will go to Frosinone in this market, In the 84th minute he pushed Di Lorenzo’s corner between the sticks. He was unable to celebrate his first Azzurri goal because he had to be treated for a worrying header that hit the post, but he did so three minutes later. The winger returned to the field, took the ball from Duncan, entered the penalty area and scored the final score 3-0 with a perfect right-foot strike. Napoli advances to the final, where the winner of Inter-Lazio awaits them, in pure Mazzarri style. It was what I needed after a terrible few months.
Follow Diario AS WhatsApp channelwhere you will find everything about sports in one space: current news of the day, agenda with the latest news about the most important sporting events, the most striking images, opinions of the best AS brands, reports, videos and, why not, also a little humor from time to time .