SSC Napoli are in danger of missing out on European soccer next season. The draw at table neighbors Florence means the Neapolitans are now reliant on AC losing their remaining two games
For SSC Napoli, a win was virtually a must if they were to finish eighth and qualify for the Conference League. However, the visitors were without captain di Lorenzo, who was suffering from gastroenteritis, and top scorer Osimhen, who was injured, for the clash with neighbors and Conference League finalists Florence
The visitors from Napoli started well and took the lead after an even opening period through Rrahmani’s header from a corner (8′). The next goal also belonged to the Neapolitans, but Kvaratskhelia was unable to get his direct shot on target (13′).
The game then tipped slightly, with Napoli becoming more passive and allowing Florence to get more and more into the game. However, apart from Beltran (24′) and Kouamé’s long-range shot (35′), little came of it. But then AC turned the game around within three minutes: First Biraghi punished a handball by Lobotka with a dream free-kick (40′), before Nzola didn’t have to be asked twice after Politano’s misplaced pass in his own third (42′).
After the break, SSC first had to overcome a long-range shot from ex-Stuttgart man Gonzalez before making their own offensive appearance through Kvaratskhelia (50′) and a double chance from Simeone and Cajuste (51′). The equalizer came in the 57th minute: Kvaratskhelia did the same as Biraghi and scored the equalizer with a great direct free-kick
Kvaratskhelia equalizes fantastically
SSC came close to turning the game around, but Politano failed to hit the post (63′). Hardly anything happened in front of goal after that, with Politano again forcing the previously sloppy Terracciano into a save (76′). Rrahmani headed the resulting corner just wide of the goal (78′). Four minutes later, referee Matteo Marchetti pointed to the spot after Lobotka allegedly fouled Belotti, but he reversed his decision after the VAR intervened and looked at the images.
Apart from Raspadori’s harmless finish (90.+4), nothing worth mentioning happened after that, meaning that the final score remained a fair 2:2. A result that Florence can live with much better
In order to have a chance of finishing eighth, Napoli must now win their last game in Lecce and at the same time hope that Florence lose their two remaining games at Cagliari and Atalanta (catch-up game on 2 June). In between, AC still have the Conference League final against Olympiakos Piraeus (29.05., 21:00).