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Serie A | Napoli 1-1 Udinese: Match Report

Napoli Drop Points in Title Race After Udinese Stalemate

Napoli suffered a setback in their Serie A title aspirations as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Udinese at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

Despite taking the lead through Scott McTominay, the Partenopei failed to hold on as Jurgen Ekkelenkamp equalized with a spectacular strike.


Match Summary

  • Napoli started strongly, with Matteo Politano and McTominay testing Udinese goalkeeper Razvan Sava early on.
  • Udinese created their own chances, as Lorenzo Lucca forced Alex Meret into a crucial save.
  • McTominay broke the deadlock in the 37th minute, heading home from a corner after missing an earlier chance.
  • Udinese responded just three minutes later when Ekkelenkamp’s long-range strike beat Meret to level the score.
  • Napoli pushed for a winner in the second half, introducing Noah Okafor and Giovanni Simeone, but Udinese’s defense held firm.
  • The draw keeps Napoli at the top of Serie A, but they missed the chance to extend their lead after Inter’s loss to Fiorentina.

Match Stats

StatNapoliUdinese
Possession61%39%
Shots (On Target)14 (6)9 (4)
Corners73
Fouls Committed1215
Yellow Cards23
Pass Accuracy88%81%

Player Ratings & Performances

Napoli (4-3-3)

PlayerRating
GK: Alex Meret7.0/10 – Made some crucial saves but couldn’t stop Ekkelenkamp’s screamer.
RB: Giovanni Di Lorenzo6.8/10 – Solid defensively but lacked an attacking spark.
CB: Amir Rrahmani6.9/10 – Strong in the air but struggled with Udinese’s counters.
CB: Juan Jesus6.7/10 – Decent positioning but caught out for the equalizer.
LB: Pasquale Mazzocchi6.5/10 – Provided width but struggled against Thauvin.
CM: Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa7.1/10 – Controlled midfield but lacked creativity.
CM: Stanislav Lobotka7.2/10 – Kept possession ticking but lacked forward thrust.
CM: Scott McTominay7.9/10(Napoli’s Best Player) – Scored a well-taken header and was a presence in midfield.
RW: Matteo Politano7.0/10 – Looked dangerous but failed to score.
ST: Romelu Lukaku6.6/10 – Struggled to impact the game.
LW: David Neres6.4/10 – Was quiet before being subbed.
SUB: Giacomo Raspadori (71′ for Anguissa)6.3/10 – Added some energy but no end product.
SUB: Cyril Ngonge (70′ for Politano)6.1/10 – Struggled to get involved.
SUB: Giovanni Simeone (71′ for Lukaku)6.4/10 – Provided a physical presence but no goals.
SUB: Billy Gilmour (81′ for Lobotka)6.2/10 – Showed good passing range.
SUB: Noah Okafor (87′ for Neres)N/A – Not enough time to make an impact.

Udinese (4-4-2)

PlayerRating
GK: Razvan Sava7.8/10(Udinese’s Best Player) – Made several key saves to keep Napoli out.
RB: Rasmus Kristensen6.9/10 – Defended well and made overlapping runs.
CB: Jaka Bijol7.0/10 – Solid defensive display.
CB: Oumar Solet6.8/10 – Handled Napoli’s attackers well.
LB: Hassane Kamara6.7/10 – Held his ground against Politano.
RM: Jordan Atta6.4/10 – Worked hard but lacked end product.
CM: Isak Karlstrom7.1/10 – Put in a tireless shift.
CM: Sandi Lovric6.8/10 – Distributed the ball well.
LM: Jurgen Ekkelenkamp7.5/10 – Scored a stunning equalizer and was a creative force.
ST: Florian Thauvin6.8/10 – Linked up play but didn’t have a clear chance.
ST: Lorenzo Lucca6.5/10 – Physical presence but struggled to finish.
SUB: Martin Payero (70′ for Lovric)6.4/10 – Added some energy to midfield.
SUB: Iker Bravo (80′ for Atta)6.3/10 – Pressed well but had little impact.
SUB: Kingsley Ehizibue (81′ for Solet)6.2/10 – Came in to solidify the defense.
SUB: Oier Zarraga (86′ for Ekkelenkamp)N/A – Not enough time to impact the game.

Key Talking Points

1. Napoli Missed a Big Opportunity

  • With Inter Milan dropping points, Napoli had a chance to extend their lead at the top.
  • Instead, they settled for a second consecutive draw, keeping the title race wide open.

2. McTominay Proving His Worth

  • The Scottish midfielder was Napoli’s standout performer, scoring the opener and controlling midfield.
  • He has now scored 4 goals in his last 6 Serie A appearances.

3. Udinese Show Resilience

  • Ekkelenkamp’s goal was world-class, showing Udinese’s attacking potential.
  • Their defense held strong in the second half, frustrating Napoli’s attack.

4. Napoli’s New Signings Need Time

  • Noah Okafor and Billy Gilmour were introduced late in the game but failed to make an impact.
  • Lukaku and Politano struggled, highlighting Napoli’s need for more attacking depth.

What’s Next?

  • Napoli face Torino next weekend, needing a win to stay ahead in the title race.
  • Udinese take on Empoli, looking to build on their strong performance.

📌 Final Verdict: Napoli let a golden opportunity slip, while Udinese prove they can fight against Serie A’s top teams. 🚀

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