Viktor Kovalenko’s stoppage-time stunner gave Empoli the shock victory away to Napoli, as Rudi Garcia’s tactical experiments failed miserably.
The Partenopei had a mixed week, winning away to Salernitana only to then draw with Union Berlin in the Champions League. Victor Osimhen and Diego Demme were out of action, but Rudi Garcia transformed the squad, dropping Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, Piotr Zielinski and Natan for a change of system to 4-2-3-1. Another change was forced in the warm-up when Alex Meret suffered a calf strain. The Tuscans were in penultimate place, losing Italy Under-21 international Tommaso Baldanzi, Sebastian Walukiewicz and Giuseppe Pezzella to injury.
The hosts forced a couple of big early saves from Etrit Berisha with a Matteo Politano curler and the Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa header on the resulting corner.
Empoli also had two chances in quick succession, Mattia Cancellieri drilling just wide after a good passing move before Gollini rushed out to push the ball off Ciccio Caputo’s feet.
Simeone had the ball in the net on 27 minutes, but Cholito was offside on the Leo Ostigard through pass.
Gollini was tested again by a Nicolò Cambiaghi strike that had to be palmed round the base of the near post, as Napoli were jeered off the field at half-time.
The 4-3-3 formation returned with the introduction of Kvaratskhelia and Zielinski, the Georgian immediately sending Bartosz Bereszynski to ground only for the shot to be charged down.
Kvaratskhelia also pulled back to the edge of the area for substitute Jesper Lindstrom to sting Berisha’s gloves, while the Georgian also forced a save at the near post.
Napoli thought they had won it in the final minute when a wayward Lindstrom effort turned into an assist for Kvaratskhelia at the near post, but Berisha stuck out a foot to deny the angled drive in a sensational reaction save.
Instead, moments later it was Empoli who took the lead with a stunning right-foot strike from Kovalenko, who managed to bend it around Gollini in off the inside of the upright at the far top corner from a tricky angle.
Napoli 0-1 Empoli
Kovalenko 91 (E)
Player statistic
| 78' |  |
Matteo Cancellieri | ||
| Jens Cajuste | |
90+3' | ||
| 90+1' |  |
Viktor Kovalenko (Assist: Tyronne Ebuehi) |
Match statistic
