In the second half the striker’s left-footed shot on an assist from Kvara decides. The Germans had a goal disallowed for offside in the first half. For Gercia an important step towards qualification
– berlin
They call them dirty victories, they often make the difference. Because even when the evening seems wrong, resisting and hitting on the first attempt still gives great morale and feels like a great team. Napoli today are still not the ones who entertained in Europe last season, but in the meantime they return from Berlin with a very important 1-0 success, which gives them second place in the group behind Real Madrid and guarantees passage to the round of 16. The solution was a left-footed shot from Raspadori in the 20th minute of the second half, lethal after Kvaratskhelia’s magic on the wing, the only one worthy of a great evening.
low pace
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The start seemed like a copy and paste from Verona, with the home team being more enterprising and the guests forced to defend immediately on two tricky corner kicks. Once the first wave has passed, Napoli begins to weave its web, but with little speed and a lot of predictability. Thus the Union remains sly, well covered and ready to attack the fields left unattended by the Azzurri. In the 24th minute Union also managed to break the deadlock, but Fofana’s starting position – before having drunk Natan and Rrahmani with a couple of swerves and serving Haberer for the winning shot – was irregular. Nothing done. We start, but it is always the Union who play on the counterattacks and Napoli is soft and without any flashes. Before the break Aaronson (30′) misses the target from a good position, Fofana (37′) finds Meret to block at the near post and Khedira (brother of the former Juve player) shoots just wide from outside the area.
the rasp bite
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Garcia leaves Cajuste, a bad copy of Verona, in the locker room and brings Elmas back as midfielder. But the first thrill of the second half is still for Meret’s goal, with Fofana’s shot (3′) still just wide. Kvara (5′) tries to light up: delicious serpentine to the left and blocked shot. But Napoli needs initiatives like this to shake themselves up, and in fact it is from the next magic on the left (20′) that the Georgian skips Trimmel dryly and from the back line sends a chocolate for Raspadori, who first strikes Ronnow. Napoli ahead with the first shot on goal: ruthless. Union, struck in their pride, suddenly seemed to melt away: Garcia brought on Simeone and Olivera for Raspadori and Mario Rui and the Germans also changed three players to find a boost from the bench.
last assaults
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In the 35th minute Knoche brought the over 70,000 people in the Olympiastadion to their feet, but his header went just wide with Meret now beaten. With two to go, Garcia takes refuge: Kvara outside (who this time gives his coach a high five) and Ostigard inside, who places himself as a dam in front of the defense. In the middle of injury time, Meret dived to save a dangerous low cross, but Napoli without Kvara never started again. The fort, however, holds and after Verona, here is Berlin. Two victories that could change Napoli’s season. And Garcia’s future.
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