Juan Camilo Zuniga was hero and villain, while Lorenzo Insigne and Goran Pandev also scored in Napoli’s 3-1 win over Galatasaray.
Juan Camilo Zuniga was hero and villain, while Lorenzo Insigne and Goran Pandev also scored in Napoli’s 3-1 win over Galatasaray.
This was originally set to be a huge celebration with cheerleaders, fireworks and dance routines, but it was pared down out of respect after last night’s bus crash killed at least 37 people in nearby Irpinia. A minute’s silence was also held in their memory before the game.
Gonzalo Higuain and Pepe Reina were presented to the fans, but did not make their debuts because the international transfers haven’t come through yet from Real Madrid and Liverpool. Rafael and Jose Maria Callejon – who has inherited Edinson Cavani’s Number 9 jersey – did start.
It took just four minutes to break the deadlock, as Insigne curled a cross on to the head of Pandev, glancing it past Nando Muslera.
Rafa Benitez occasionally switched the wide men, so sent Insigne to the right and Callejon to the left, and back again.
Marek Hamsik wasted a golden opportunity on the counter-attack and Insigne curled just over the bar, but goalkeeper Rafael needed a stunning save to deny Didier Drogba’s angled drive.
Former Santos shot-stopper Rafael was again called into action on Wesley Sneijder from distance and at point-blank range straight after the restart.
Blerim Dzemaili thumped the woodwork from a Hamsik pull-back, while moments later Callejon’s first touch let him down one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Galatasaray equalised thanks to Nordin Amrabat, who skipped past Giandomenico Mesto and fired under the bar.
Federico Fernandez nodded wide from a corner, but the Stadio San Paolo crowd jeered very loudly when Zuniga was introduced. The Colombian has not signed a new contract amid reports he wants to join Juventus.
However, it was Zuniga who scored when he ran on to an Insigne assist, waltzed round the goalkeeper and deposited into the empty net. He further won over the fans by jumping excitedly at the anti-Juventus chants that followed his goal.
In the final minute Emanuele Calaio was brought down for a penalty and Muslera reacted so badly that he pushed the referee, earning a red card. Insigne stepped up and converted the penalty to win the Acqua Lete Cup.
Napoli 3-1 Galatasaray
Scorers: Pandev 4 (N), Amrabat 58 (G), Zuniga 81 (N), Insigne pen 92 (N)
Napoli: Rafael; Mesto, Cannavaro (Fernandez 46), Britos, Armero (Dossena 46); Dzemaili (Radosevic 75), Behrami (Inler 46); Insigne, Hamsik (Mertens 56), Callejon (Zuniga 67); Pandev (Calaio 63)
Galatasaray: Muslera; Eboue (Sarioglu 46), Chedjou, Inan, Riera; Altintop (Kazim 76), Melo (Baitar 46), Nounkeu; Sneijder (Bulut 68); Drogba (Elmander 68), Yilmaz (Amrabat 46)
Sent off: Muslera 90 (G)