Only an unlucky Alex Meret’s own goal prevented Napoli from earning a point against perennial Champions League favourites Real Madrid: here are Stephen Kasiewicz’s three talking points from the Stadio Maradona clash.
The reigning Serie A champions lost 3-2 against the Spanish giants on a thrilling night in Campania.
Leo Ostigard headed the Partenopei ahead before the 14-time European champions hit back through Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham in an eventful first half.
Piotr Zielinski calmly levelled from the spot after the break as Napoli dominated for large portions of the second period. Yet Carlo Ancelotti’s side claimed victory in fortuitous fashion as Federico Valverde’s thunderous strike rebounded off Meret and into the net.
The Partenopei can take encouragement from a spirited display as they are well placed to progress from the group stage despite the defeat.
Here are three talking points from Napoli’s dramatic Champions League loss.
Garcia’s tactics just fall short
Calls for the French coach to be sacked have subsided yet his game plan wasn’t always effective in front of a frenzied crowd at Stadio Diego Maradona. A concentrated high press and overloads in wide areas stretched the play but often left wide-open gaps that Real Madrid mercilessly capitalised on.
Despite passages of brisk interplay, the Partenopei couldn’t keep up the quick tempo and Carlo Ancelotti’s side found unoccupied avenues when Napoli relinquished possession.
Bellingham intercepted a stray pass from Giovanni Di Lorenzo to set up Vinicius Junior for the equaliser. The England international wasn’t tracked properly as he waltzed through to score a brilliant second. André-Frank Zambo Anguissa was stranded upfield and failed to challenge the 20-year-old midfield prodigy with Ostigard badly exposed in the heart of the defence.
The untimely substitutions of Napoli’s two best players on the night – Zielinski and Matteo Politano – were questionable as Garcia’s team again launched too many long balls in the general direction of lone striker Victor Osimhen.
Learning process for inexperienced defensive duo
Nobody envisaged a starting central defensive partnership of Leo Ostigard, 23, and Natan, 22, in Napoli’s highest-profile Champions League home group match.
Injuries to Amir Rrahmani and Juan Jesus forced Garcia into fielding the uninitiated pairing and neither disgraced themselves on the big stage.
The unfamiliar combination were tested to the absolute limit as Real Madrid threatened to run riot in a jittery opening period. The Brazilian marked his full debut in Europe’s premier competition with a proliferation of hopeful passes towards Osimhen, yet didn’t commit any glaring mistakes.
He struck the bar with a header as Kepa Arrizabalaga completely misjudged Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s corner and Ostigard followed up to emphatically claim his second goal of the season.
Both were caught in no man’s land as Di Lorenzo’s misplaced pass eventually led to Real Madrid’s equaliser. The Norwegian international was then left isolated as Bellingham powered through to send the away side ahead.
The pair settled as Napoli levelled after the break and neither were culpable as Valverde plundered a fortunate winner.
Despite being part of a backline that conceded three times the defensive counterparts displayed an admirable sense of purpose while facing one of the continent’s most intimidating clubs.
Ostigard and Natan will probably never be the preferred starting duo in the Partenopei team yet they are now aware of the standard required to contend with the European elite.
Zielinski hits the spot
Have Napoli finally found a regular penalty-taker? It’s been an ongoing conundrum for the last two years.
Osimhen (against Bologna) and Giacomo Raspadori (against Sassuolo) have both missed penalties this season, while Politano netted from 12 yards in the four-goal thrashing of Lecce.
Now Zielinski could be the answer for Napoli.
The Polish international – who scored from the spot against Udinese – kept his composure to strike home via the post as the Partenopei restored parity early in the second half against Madrid. Whether Zielinski is entrusted with future penalties or is part of a rotation list has yet to be decided. However, he didn’t hesitate when handed the responsibility under immense pressure on Tuesday night.
Twitter: @SKasiewicz