Even though Giacomo Raspadori scored very late, Napoli managed to defeat Spezia and earn three crucial Serie A points.
Napoli were fired up after defeating Liverpool 4-1 here in the Champions League this week, but Giacomo Raspadori filled in for Victor Osimhen, who was out for a month due to a thigh strain. Despite missing Daniele Verde, Albin Ekdal, Daniel Maldini, Kelvin Amian, and Salva Ferrer, Spezia had gone four games without a victory. However, Ethan Ampadu was prepared to make his debut.
Before the game began, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia was recognized as the Serie A Player of the Month for August. He immediately showed why, nutmegging two opponents before Nikolaou blocked his shot.
As Eljif Elmas saw his attempt deflected just wide, Kvaratskhelia next forced a one-handed low save from Bartlomiej Dragowski with an angled drive and another block after shimmying past two defenders. Jakub Kiwior deflected another Kvaratskhelia shot over, but just before halftime, Alex Meret palmed an Emmanuel Gyasi counter around the near post to give Spezia a chance.
Like the previous start, Tanguy Ndombele was taken off at halftime and replaced by Stanislav Lobotka. Dragowski parried an attempt from Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa from the edge of the box with his legs before palming a rocket from Piotr Zielinski over the crossbar and Elmas nodding wide. After Kiwior pounced on a misdirected Mario Rui header back to Meret at the near post, Amir Rrahmani had to clear the goal line in order to prevent Spezia from scoring.
Hirving Lozano hit the side-netting at the back post after Dragowski flubbed at a corner after Raspadori wasted a few good chances. In the final minute of regulation, Lozano controlled a long ball, pulled it back across the goal, and found Raspadori, who swept in at the back post for his first goal for Napoli. The hosts’ late siege paid off.
The amount of additional time given was the topic of conversation between Luciano Spalletti and a Spezia employee as they were being sent off and finally Napoli finished with a narrow win.
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