Napoli, under new coach Antonio Conte, narrowly escaped an upset in the Coppa Italia, defeating Serie B side Modena 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw in regular time. The match, played at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, marked Conte’s official debut and exposed some of Napoli’s weaknesses despite their dominance in possession (75%) and shots (28).Goalkeeper Alex Meret emerged as the hero for Napoli, making crucial saves during the penalty shootout to secure the team’s advancement. Despite the victory, Conte was quick to address the team’s shortcomings, stating, ‘We need reinforcements, this game against Modena was like a cold shower…’. The coach highlighted the team’s struggle to break down Modena’s compact defense and create clear scoring opportunities.Conte also touched upon the challenges Napoli faces in the transfer market, explaining, ‘We know that on the market we have limits, we cannot spend certain amounts, we cannot reach certain salaries, and some players do not want to come because we do not participate in the Cups’. This statement comes amidst speculation about star player Victor Osimhen’s future, with reports suggesting he ‘wants to leave’ the team.In other Coppa Italia matches, Empoli comfortably beat Catanzaro 4-1, Cremonese edged out Bari on penalties after a 1-1 draw, and Verona suffered a surprising 2-1 home defeat to Cesena, eliminating them from the competition.
Key points
- Napoli narrowly defeated Modena 4-3 on penalties in the Coppa Italia after a 0-0 draw.
- Antonio Conte, in his debut as Napoli coach, emphasized the need for team reinforcements.
- Goalkeeper Alex Meret’s crucial saves in the penalty shootout secured Napoli’s advancement.
- Napoli faces challenges in the transfer market due to financial limitations and lack of European competition.
Contradictions👾While some sources emphasize Napoli’s dominance in possession and shots, others highlight the team’s struggle to create clear scoring opportunities, suggesting a discrepancy in the interpretation of Napoli’s performance.
