11 September 2021
Kalidou Koulibaly's late goal handed Napoli a 2-1 victory on Saturday evening at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, despite Alvaro Morata striking first early on.
It was a game Massimiliano Allegri knew would be a must-win having come into the game off the back of a draw and a loss in the opening two Serie A match days. Napoli were eager to rock the Bianconeri boat with their chance in the opening 30 seconds of the game which saw Politano narrowly nod over Osimhen's cross over the target.
The Bianconeri stunned the home crowd in the 11th minute when a defensive error was capitalized on by Morata, who then turned towards goal and fired it past Ospina. McKennie had a shot denied by the Colombian goalkeeper, along with Kulusevski's before the flag was raised. Few to no chances followed for the remainder of the half, as the Bianconeri went into the break in the lead.
Into the second half, and Napoli were the side who was applying the most pressure, and it paid off in their favour when they scored the equaliser in the 57th minute. Insigne initially fired in a curling effort that was palmed down by Szczesny, but the ball fell to the path of Politano who tapped it home.
McKennie immediately tried to restore Juve's lead with a shot that skimmed narrowly wide of the target. Mario Rui also struck wide of goal, while Osimhen's effort was curled over. Napoli continued to be a thorn in Juve's side and they forced Szczesny to make a save when he punched away a free-kick, the ball fell to the feet of Fabian Ruiz who blasted it narrowly over with Tek getting the slightest of touches.
Kean was then introduced into the game in the 82nd minute in place of Morata, but it wasn't the second debut he would have hoped for. A Napoli corner kick was floated into the box, Kean nodded it down towards goal, Tek got the slightest of touches but couldn't get a proper grip and Koulibaly tapped it in from a yard out with just five minutes remaining on the clock.
Napoli: Ospina; Di Lorenzo, Manolas, Koulibaly, Mario Rui; Fabian Ruiz, Anguissa; Politano, Elmas, Insigne; Osimhen
Juventus: Szczesny; De Sciglio, Bonucci, Chiellini, Pellegrini (De Ligt 57'); McKennie (Ramsey 73'), Locatelli, Rabiot; Bernardeschi, Morata (Kean 82'), Kulusevski
Subs: Pinsoglio, Perin, de Ligt, Rugani, De Winter, Ramsey, Miretti, Kean, Soule.
