Another bitter night Napoli eliminated and no longer Higuain – The Republic

THE Napoli says goodbye to Europe League and remains mired in the negative results tunnel. The rooms streak to four: two defeats and as many draws, the last with Villarreal to a 1-1 draw with the San Paolo celebrating qualification to the knockout stages. Sarri can console themselves with a performance on balance positive. The flashes are those of the true Naples: high pace and no backlash despite five changes. Valdifiori and David Lopez, for example, are up to the task.

The only thing missing a bit of luck. The draw of Pina – a cross from the right turns into a ballistic masterpiece – is the difficult time signal even with regard to good fortune. The only negative note is the performance of Higuain. The Argentine is not at the top, but the Blues they try with great determination.

The Villarreal did not really going to hole up behind and start with a high pressure to embarrass Napoli. 4-4-2 Marcelino does not provide the coverage that Valdifiori so he can enter without the man on and it can verticalize. David Lopez, meanwhile, delivers everything it promises: faces before Bruno Soriano then Pina without particular misgivings. Hamsik ago by siding with great determination. The ballistic prowess erases some initial error: Valdifiori tries Higuain, Ruiz anticipates him, but the captain pounced on the loose ball and burns right Areola thus drawing the bill with the knockout of the Madrigal.

Then the Napoli can reason. The dribble is quite fast and so Villarreal is in trouble. Sarri well alternates Mertens and Insigne for not giving reference points. The ‘Yellow Submarine’ is forced to immerse themselves in their own half. The only dangers are branded Bakambu – fearsome to 14 ‘, but the intervention of Reina’s providential – insidious with his speed that causes suffering Chiriches. Napoli grows and plays even with elegance at the end of the first half. The Azzurri nearly doubling with Musacchio who unwittingly hit the post to curb cross Mertens, close to 2-0 just before the break.

The script changes slightly in the second half: Napoli slightly cala d ‘ intensity and Villarreal took advantage and 11 ‘should think again Reina saves on Rukavina. But at 14 ‘can do nothing. Pina misses the ball and guess the trajectory under the intersection which freezes the San Paolo. It also hurts Strinic and Sarri Hysaj moves to the left.

The goal determines the Blues who are feeling the pinch and going away with increased fatigue. The last twenty minutes are a true assault. Areola takes his and neutralizes

in less than sixty seconds attempts to Insigne and Mertens. Sarri you play well Gabbiadini paper instead of David Lopez for the final push. The result does not change. The applause is thunderous and cover the chants against De Laurentiis, sung by the curve B. The rest of the stadium is dissociated. Bitter at the end Hamsik: “This defeat burns, we wanted to go forward: we played a great game, there lacked a bit ‘of luck”. Again.

Topics:

naples

football

higuain

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