Napoli continued their pre-season preparations by defeating Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 with Marek Hamsik and Goran Pandev on target.
Napoli continued their pre-season preparations by defeating Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 with Marek Hamsik and Goran Pandev on target.
The Partenopei already beat Bayern Munich in a friendly last week and had another big German test when Leverkusen came to the Stadio San Paolo.
Lorenzo Insigne was stopped by the Bayer defence and his lob was just off target, while Simon Rolfes wasted two great scoring opportunities including one when clear on goal.
Miguel Angel Britos charged down a powerful Gonzalo Castro effort, but it was Napoli who broke the deadlock just shy of the half-hour mark.
Andrea Dossena set up Insigne, who burst past a defender and rolled across for Marek Hamsik’s easiest of tap-ins.
Stefan Kiesling had the chance to equalise straight away, but fired over. Insigne was again very impressive, setting up opportunities that saw Hamsik and Goran Pandev force saves out of the goalkeeper.
Bayer Leverkusen did draw level within seconds of the restart, as Manuel Friedrich was left unmarked to nod in a corner kick.
It didn’t last long, as moments later Blerim Dzemaili’s rocket stung Bernd Leno’s palms and Hamsik dribbled round the ‘keeper only to be denied by a Philipp Wollscheid goalline clearance.
Napoli went back in front after this furious fight-back, as Leno did brilliantly to parry a Dzemaili volley, but could do nothing on Pandev’s headed follow-up.
Insigne should’ve made it 3-1 when he ran on to a goal kick, skipped past Friedrich and somehow skimmed the woodwork, while Leno beat away a Juan Camilo Zuniga effort.
Federico Fernandez did hit the back of the net, but the header was disallowed for a push on the goalkeeper. Insigne again flew away from Friedrich down the left and forced Leno into a tremendous save in the final minutes.
Napoli 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen
Scorers: Hamsik 28 (N), Friedrich 46 (B), Pandev 50 (N)
Napoli: Rosati; Campagnaro (Fernandez 61), Cannavaro (Gamberini 76), Britos (Aronica 70); Zuniga, Dzemaili (Behrami 55), Gargano (Fornito 88), Hamsik (Vitale 76), Dossena (Maggio 61); Insigne (Bariti 87); Pandev (Novothny 82)
Bayer Leverkusen: Leno; Schwaab, Reinartz (Ortega 90), Wollscheid, Friedrich (Toprak 61); Rolfes (Hegler 82), Bender (Sam 61), Kiesling (J Fernandez 61), Schurrle (Bellerabi 46), Castro (Pusch 88); Kadlec