Napoli lost their first international friendly 3-2 to OGC Nice with Jose Callejon sent off, Vlad Chiriches and Elseid Hysaj debuts.

This was Maurizio Sarri’s first major test at the helm and he confirmed Lorenzo Insigne in the new trequartista role with Allan and Mirko Valdifiori in midfield. There was crowd trouble before the game, as 150 Partenopei ultras were arrested for lighting fires and hurling objects near the stadium.

Napoli lost their first international friendly 3-2 to OGC Nice with Jose Callejon sent off, Vlad Chiriches and Elseid Hysaj debuts.

This was Maurizio Sarri’s first major test at the helm and he confirmed Lorenzo Insigne in the new trequartista role with Allan and Mirko Valdifiori in midfield. There was crowd trouble before the game, as 150 Partenopei ultras were arrested for lighting fires and hurling objects near the stadium.

Sarri has so far been unable to fix the disastrous defensive frailties that proved so costly last season and Nice took the lead within eight minutes. Gabriel was on his debut and the young Brazilian goalkeeper could’ve done better on a tame Alassan Plea effort.

What Sarri has maintained is their scoring touch and a Dries Mertens ball was rolled across the face of goal for Jose Callejon to tap in at the back post.

Moments later the Spaniard was at full stretch and just unable to hook a splendid Valdifiori pass over the top. Mertens did turn the game around completely, going on a wonderful slalom from the left to fire low at the near post.

Gabriel had a nervous start, but got down so quickly for a great save on Plea’s volley. However, there was no saving the Jean-Michael Seri scorcher into the top corner from 20 metres as Nice equalised.

Insigne almost scored the goal of the game with a sudden blockbuster from a good 30 metres out, but the ‘keeper just about got his fingertips to it.

Vlad Chiriches and Elseid Hysaj were given their debuts after the restart. Another Insigne snapshot was beaten away with great difficulty and Callejon tried to pounce on the rebound.

However, Nice went back in front with a Valere Germain free header into the ground that looped over Rafael. Kalidou Koulibaly’s marking left something to be desired.

Manolo Gabbiadini thought he’d made it 3-3 moments later with a delightful lob, but it was cleared off the line by Maxime Le Marchand.

There was tension outside the stadium before the game and it spilled out inside too, as Callejon was sent off following a scuffle, as he reacted angrily to a challenge. It seemed a harsh decision.

Gabbiadini tried to go round the goalkeeper, forcing another very difficult save from Jonathan de Guzman’s assist.

Nice 3-2 Napoli

Scorers: Plea 8 (Ni), Callejon 14 (Na), Mertens 20 (Na), Seri 39 (Ni), Germain 53 (Ni)

OGC Nice: Pouplin; Gomis (Albert 77), Bodmer (Borges 77), Le Marchand, Hult (Boscagli 61); Koziello (Eysseric 61), Mendy, Seri (Puel 77); Ben Arfa (Traore 61); Plea (Benrahma 77), Germain (Mendy 77)

Napoli: Gabriel (Rafael 46); Maggio, Henrique (Chiriches 46), Koulibaly, Ghoulam (Hysaj 46); Allan (Inler 58), Valdifiori (Jorginho 46), David Lopez (De Guzman 69); Insigne (El Kaddouri 69); Mertens (Gabbiadini 46), Callejon

Sent off: Callejon 68 (Na)

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