Raspadori is Napoli’s latest new weapon in unbeaten start
Raspadori is Napoli’s latest new weapon in unbeaten start: Napoli has done an excellent job of replacing the team’s lost leadership and offensive and defensive pillars over the offseason.
The southern club apparently acquires a new weapon with each game they play.
Napoli’s reserve striker Giacomo Raspadori scored the game-winning goal in the 89th minute of Saturday’s 1-0 victory against Spezia in Serie A, following Piotr Zieliski’s stellar performance in the team’s 4-1 Champions League triumph over Liverpool.
Declaration
After a night like that, it’s tough to play three days later, especially in the afternoon heat and against Liverpool. In spite of everything, we gave it our all,” Napoli head coach Luciano Spalletti stated. We can’t afford to be in these positions very often, and they were costly last season, but it’s a testament to our character, patience, and faith that we’ll find the goal sooner or later.
Napoli’s dramatic come-from-behind victory at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona propelled them to the top of the Italian league standings, where they remain unbeaten despite Atalanta having a chance to retake first place on Sunday at home against promoted Cremonese.
It was possible that the defending champion AC Milan could tie Napoli in the standings if they won their match against Sampdoria later that day. Since Maradona won Serie A with Napoli in ,1987 and 1990, the team has been searching for its third league title.
Remark
The 22-year-old loanee from Sassuolo, Raspadori, started in place of the injured Victor Osimhen. Spalletti kept him on the field until the very end despite replacing most of his other offensive players. Spalletti’s gamble paid off when Raspadori got in position to divert a cross from Hirving Lozano and bury a shot inside the far post.
I use all of these as jumping-off points,” Raspadori remarked. Two opportunities had passed me by, but I managed to keep my wits about me.
Napoli’s plan all along was to buy out Raspadori’s rights for 30 million euros ($30 million) at the end of the season, and this loan deal allows them to accomplish just that. Raspadori’s goal gave Napoli (together with Inter Milan) eight different scorers in Serie A this season.
Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, 21 at the time of this writing, has scored four goals and been awarded Serie A’s player of the month for August. He displayed his brilliance on the left flank again in the first half, this time by dribbling between the legs of two defenders in a single play.
Minutes later, “Kvara” was back at it, using even more dazzling dribbling maneuvers to evade his defenders. His shot was a little more on target this time, but Spezia goalkeeper Bartomiej Drgowski was able to block it. Substitute Zieliski made an early impact, firing a long-range attempt that Poland teammate Drgowski had to tip over the bar.
Napoli’s defense was in disarray, and a shot by Spezia had to be cleared off the line by center-back Amir Rrahmani.
After losing captain Lorenzo Insigne to Toronto FC, record scorer Dries Mertens to Galatasaray, and muscular defender Kalidou Koulibaly to Chelsea, Napoli are doing well in the transition. Kim Min-jae, South Korea’s replacement for Koulibaly at center back, got some rest after making a significant contribution.
Statement
“Everyone on the squad gets along really well. Raspadori gushed, “Everyone’s incredibly accommodating, and that’s crucial for a shy person like me joining a squad like this.” Scuffles broke out after Raspadori scored, leading to Spalletti’s dismissal and the dismissal of Spezia’s goalkeeper’s coach.
Napoli’s next Champions League match is on Tuesday, away against Rangers. In that case, Spalletti should be benched for the match against Milan next weekend.