Serie A | Napoli 1-0 Sassuolo: Lobotka ends long drought, but fresh injury woe
Stanislav Lobotka’s first Serie A goal in over three years allowed Napoli to end their run of stalemates and defeat Sassuolo, but there were yet more injuries.
The Partenopei had slipped four points off leaders Inter after three consecutive Serie A draws, as the injury crisis was taking its toll with fatigue due to a lack of squad rotation. David Neres, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Billy Gilmour and Alex Meret were still injured, so Antonio Vergara got his first Serie A start the day after his 23rd birthday. Antonio Conte continued his touchline ban, though Juan Jesus returned from suspension. The Neroverdi had just three draws in six rounds, missing Domenico Berardi, Ismael Kone, Kristian Thorstvedt, Fali Cande, Cristian Volpato, Daniel Boloca and Edoardo Pieragnolo.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo nodded a Vergara corner over the bar, then Rasmus Hojlund nearly managed to turn in Vergara’s assist at the near post.
Napoli took the lead when Eljif Elmas completed a give and go with Leonardo Spinazzola to test Arijanet Muric with an angled drive, but Stanislav Lobotka was ready to volley in the rebound. It was his first Serie A goal in over three years.
It was almost 1-1 moments later, as Armand Laurienté controlled a long ball and cut inside, his daisy-cutter palmed away low with one hand by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, with Juan Jesus decisive to prevent Andrea Pinamonti getting the rebound.
Di Lorenzo’s header was off target from Spinazzola’s cross, while Alieu Fadera twice failed to make the most of promising moves down the right, then Milinkovic-Savic just about stopped an Aster Vranckx header squirming under his arm on a corner.
Luca Lipani was decisive at one end preventing Eljif Elmas from tapping in the pull-back, then moments later almost scored at the other end with a low drive, forcing a very difficult Milinkovic-Savic one-handed save on the line.
The injuries continued to pile up for Napoli, as Elmas went off after a knock to the head, then Rrahmani pulled up clutching the back of his left thigh, meaning all the substitution slots were used up by the 68th minute.
Scott McTominay intercepted a wayward Muric clearance and drilled inches wide of the near post, while Muric flew to pluck a well-placed Pasquale Mazzocchi long-range volley out of the air.
Sassuolo pushed late on, Di Lorenzo getting back for some important blocks inside the penalty area on Skjellerup and Laurienté.
Conte in the stands was incredulous as Matteo Politano had a shot go wide and immediately clutched the back of his right thigh during added time.
Napoli 1-0 Sassuolo
Lobotka 7 (N)