Napoli falls in title race, first goal from Ikoné
While Napoli had the opportunity to temporarily settle in the top of the Italian championship alone, they stumbled over the mat on Sunday by falling at home against Fiorentina (2-3). Luciano Spalletti’s team has long been without inspiration, far from the pragmatism of the Viola, particularly driven by Jonathan Ikoné’s first Serie A goal. Naples thus remains one length behind AC Milan, leader, who will play in Turin on Sunday evening with a reduced selection. This defeat could be a key moment in a breathless title race.
Despite some interesting situations in the first quarter, the Neapolitans soon struggled to build up, leaving control of the game to the Viola. Nico Gonzalez rewarded the Florentine takeover, after much work by Arthur Cabral to fix the Rrahmani-Koulibaly pair, with his fourth goal in Serie A (29th). Behind that, Mario Rui missed a 1-1 ball, forgetting Osimhen (34th), in anger. The Nigerian, who had long been frustrated, finally made the difference by starting on the left wing on the edge of offside, before giving dries Mertens the equalizing centre-back ultra-precise two minutes after his entry into the game (58th).
But Napoli’s defensive concerns have not gone away. Certainly inspired by Mertens’ sensational entry, former Lille native Jonathan Ikoné restored Fiorentina’s advantage with his first ball coming off the bench, well offset by Gonzalez (66th). His first goal with Fiorentina, for his 10th appearance in Serie A. Author of a big game, Dusan Vlahovic’s successor, Arthur Cabral, took the break shortly afterwards by demonstrating his power on the left (72nd). Osimhen’s reaction, with a very good run (84th), made the stadium shudder at the last moments, but Naples could not come back.
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Napoli have suffered five of their six home defeats in Serie A.
Atalanta Bergamo leaves Europe
Still in the race in the Europa League, with the reception of RB Leipzig in sight in the quarter-final return (first leg 1-1) on Thursday 6.45 pm, Atalanta Bergamo has more trouble in Serie A. defeat last week at home to Naples (1-3 ), the Dea lost again, on the lawn of Sassuolo (1-2). After a shot on the crossbar by Pasalic (11th), Atalanta got the opener on a lightning strike, after a corner in his favor, with a goal by Hamed Junior Traoré (24th) on a service from Georgios Kyriakopoulos.
Traoré even missed the break by finding the post (25th), and Sportiello then saved Atalanta for Chiriches (31st). Gian Piero Gasperini’s team failed to equalize before half-time, and cracked again. Traoré offered himself a double (62nd) on a big day, on an assist from the ex-Marseillais Maxime Lopez. Luis Muriel’s goal in extra time changed nothing. Three points behind Roma, 6th, sees Atalanta move up the European places.
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Hamed Junior Traoré has scored six goals in Serie A since the start of 2022. No other midfielder born in the 2000s has done better than him in the 5 major European Championships.
Venice is sinking
Promoted to Serie A, Venice could end up dry at the end of the season. With the French Thomas Henry and Mickaël Cuisance holders, the Venetians recorded a sixth consecutive defeat against Udinese (1-2) and are stuck in 18th place, three points behind Cagliari. Cuisance also hastened the defeat by awarding a penalty to Gerard Deulofeu, who transformed it himself (35th). Henry’s equalizer (86th) gave short-lived hope as Udinese took the win thanks to a goal from Rodrigo Becao (90th + 4).
