With a terrible kick-off in 2020, especially after Carlo Ancelotti’s departure to Everton, new Napoli manager Gattuso is prioritizing the Italian Cup as the situation is tough at the Serie A.
This Tuesday in the duel against Perugia at the San Paolo Stadium for the Coppa Italia’s Round of 16, the former AC Milan legend went for starting with his maximum strength.
However, despite the confirmation of basically the main team, it didn’t seem to have made any effect on Napoli’s supporters at the semi-deserted San Paolo stadium. In fact, less than 10 thousand supporters went to watch the game, probably due to the unhappy moment that the team is going through.
In the end, Napoli were able to get a 2-0 win and the qualification for the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup.
It didn’t take long for Napoli to overcome the initial slow pace and impose their technical superiority over the opponents. They broke the deadlock with 26 on the clock. Perugia’s Nzita fouled Lorenzo Insigne inside the box, as the hosts were given a penalty. Insigne himself stepped up to make it one for Neapolitans.
The second goal came in the same way. This time Iemmello’s hands touched the ball and gave Insigne another chance to score from the spot. He went on and doubled the scoring, making the few supporters who attended the Stadium to throw a mini-party. 2-0 Napoli.
However, the bigger celebration was not with both goals from Insigne, but when goalkeeper Ospina saved the third penalty of the match, this time for Perugia, and granted a clean-sheet for Napoli at the end of the game.
Perugia was the one that had better chances in the second half, but nothing changed for them.
With the 2-0 win, Napoli is qualified for the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup. However, their focus is on their next match, against Fiorentina, which will be a difficult one, where they need to play better than they have been playing in order to get a victory and move up in the Serie A table.
Perugia, playing the Serie B – Italy’s England’s Championship equivalent, will face Chievo on their next game.