More difficult than expected. Much more. But also probably even more beautiful for this reason. The Napoli gets on the roller coaster and stays at the head of the table after winning the lunch match Castellani against Empoli thanks to a goal of Kvaratskhelia on a penalty at the start of the second half. The league leaders dispel the taboo Empolitakes the three points and remains in command in absolute solitude after eight days of the championship with 19 points, achieving the seventh consecutive useful result which coincides with the third victory in a row for Antonio Conte’s men, the team’s true driving force.
The league leaders enjoy the lead, but have suffered a lot against an excellent team Empoli well put in place by D’Aversa who conceded his first goal against Castellani this season only today. Only on penalty.
The match was conditioned by the strong wind, but also by a too soft approach from the league leaders which contrasted with the great vehemence of the home team in the first half. Conte relies on the lineup widely announced on the eve, D’Aversa he does the same and recovers Viti at the last minute who places himself as the left arm of the granite three-man defense of theEmpoli. The hosts pressed high and nipped the blue passing lines in the bud. The absence of Lobotka in the control room you can hear and Gilmour he is practically always and only forced to chase the people across the street.
The move of D’Aversa what a square Fazzini behind Esposito e Colomboproduces its effects and puts Napoli in difficulty, escorted to Castellani by around 5 thousand tuff soldiers. The first opportunity is a Tuscan one with Esposito looking for the joker with a right-footed volley, but finds the gloves of Caprile good at covering his post (11′). A little later, the goalkeeper lowers the shutter and also covers the other post well with a left-footed shot Pezzella (13′). Napoli’s response is in the head and in two free kicks. before By Lorenzo and then say Good morning with the latter almost surprising the Empoli defense on the development of a corner. At half an hour Esposito again tries to find the joker from distance (31′) in a forest of legs: Caprile he reaches out and foils the threat.
In the second half Conte changes in the quarter of an hour (the insertions of Olivera and especially Simeone were providential) and after a minute Napoli gets the penalty (foul on Politano by Anjorin). Kvara appears from the spot and surprises Vasaquez and punctures Empoli’s defense for the first time within friendly walls in the championship. A little later he also wakes up McTominay and thanks to a good maneuver by the Azzurri they almost doubled their lead. Conte he still records movements, especially in defense and enjoys the primacy. The Napoli sits at the head of the table in Serie A after the Castellani lunch match.
