Napoli, under the guidance of Antonio Conte, bounced back emphatically from their opening day defeat with a commanding 3-0 victory over Bologna at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium on August 25, 2024. This win marks Conte’s first in Serie A with Napoli, silencing critics who had prematurely declared the team’s demise just a week earlier.The match showcased Napoli’s renewed competitive spirit, with goals from Giovanni Di Lorenzo (45+2′), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (75′), and Giovanni Simeone (90+4′). Kvaratskhelia was particularly instrumental, providing an assist for Di Lorenzo’s opener and scoring the second goal himself. The Georgian star’s performance drew praise from Conte, who remarked, ‘Today we saw a very good player, capable of changing a game’.Conte expressed satisfaction with the team’s response, stating, ‘Today we had to give a great response to (Diego) Maradona. We asked for great unity to deserve the enthusiasm and passion of the Napoli fans’. He emphasized the importance of the team’s attitude, adding, ‘We had to give a signal beyond the book of passes. I didn’t doubt that these young players who work hard would do a great job’.Di Lorenzo, who scored the opening goal, addressed recent transfer rumors, saying, ‘It was a peculiar summer, but when there’s so much hatred towards me, it means they love me a lot. This crowd transmits their love, and I try to reciprocate it when I’m on the field’.The victory puts Napoli back on track with 3 points, while Bologna remains at 1 point. As Napoli prepares to face Parma next week, the team’s resurgence under Conte’s leadership has reignited enthusiasm among fans and silenced early-season doubters.
Key points
- Napoli secured a 3-0 victory over Bologna, marking Antonio Conte’s first win as their coach.
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia played a crucial role, scoring one goal and assisting another.
- The win silenced critics and demonstrated Napoli’s renewed competitive spirit under Conte’s leadership.
