Napoli thrashed 10-man Salernitana 4-1 including Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne penalties, Juan Jesus and Amir Rrahmani also on target.

Watch the highlights here.

Serie A Highlights: Napoli 4-1 Salernitana

Lorenzo Insigne was back on the bench with David Ospina after injuries, but Kalidou Koulibaly, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Adam Ounas were still unavailable. Salernitana were decimated by COVID and almost reached the threshold to pull out of the short trip for this local derby.

There was a minute’s silence before kick-off for Gianni Di Marzio, former Napoli coach and the man who discovered Diego Maradona.

Mario Rui’s free kick was tipped out from under the crossbar, with Vid Belec doing the same on a Fabian Ruiz curler.

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Juan Jesus thought he’d had another goal disallowed through no fault of his own, this time for Eljif Elmas handball, but VAR showed if anything the ball ricocheted off his shoulder and into the path of the defender to drill home.

Mario Rui rolled a ball across the face of the six-yard box, but both Chucky Lozano and Elmas came sliding in a fraction too late.

It was one-way traffic, yet Salernitana equalised with their first real foray forward. Joel Obi’s backheel flick sent Wajdi Kechrida down the right, he pulled back from the by-line for Federico Bonazzoli to sweep in first-time from nine yards.

Schiavone went off with a hamstring injury, while Fabian Ruiz forced another fingertip save from Belec.

On the stroke of half-time, Elmas dribbled into the box and was surrounded by defenders, Frederic Veseli with the ill-advised challenge for a penalty, which Mertens converted.

Lorenzo Insigne made his comeback after injury in the second half, but it was Amir Rrahmani who made it 3-1 when Zielinski flicked a header backwards, Mertens flashed his assist across the face of goal for the defender to bundle over from close range with his knee.

There was a great deal of controversy when Veseli charged down an Insigne cross, seemingly with his ribs, but the referee awarded a penalty and it was his second yellow card. The arm was outstretched, but it seemed to strike his ribs and armpit first. Nonetheless, VAR confirmed and Insigne converted from the spot, allowing him to equal Diego Armando Maradona’s 115 goals for the club.

The new Toronto FC signing celebrated by running up to the camera, pointing to the Napoli badge and declaring: “I will always love you.”

Matteo Politano and Piotr Zielinski forced late saves, but Napoli largely took their foot off the gas.

Napoli 4-1 Salernitana

Juan Jesus 17 (N), Bonazzoli 33 (S), Mertens pen 45 (N), Rrahmani 48 (N), Insigne pen 53 (N)

Sent off: Veseli 51 (S)

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