Napoli snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory against Hellas Verona at the death, with Romelu Lukaku delivering a stoppage-time winner.
Napoli's quest for a Champions League position continued at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on Saturday afternoon. They faced a Hellas Verona side desperately battling to distance themselves from the Serie A relegation zone. The stakes were high for both teams.
The visitors wasted no time asserting their intent. Just two minutes into the match, Rasmus Højlund opened the scoring for Napoli. Antonio Vergara provided a precise assist, setting up Højlund for a clinical finish. This early strike stunned the home crowd.
Verona, however, refused to buckle under the pressure. They showed resilience, attempting to push forward despite Napoli's dominant possession. The first half saw a physical battle, with Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro earning a yellow card just before the break for a holding foul.
As the teams headed into halftime, Napoli held a slender 1-0 lead. Verona needed a spark to reignite their challenge. Napoli, despite their advantage, knew the single-goal cushion was fragile.
The second half brought renewed energy from Hellas Verona. Napoli made an early substitution in the 52nd minute, bringing on Leonardo Spinazzola. Verona responded with changes, introducing Abdou Sarr and Armel Bella-Kotchap shortly after.
Verona's perseverance paid off in the 65th minute. Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro, making amends for his earlier booking, found the back of the net. His goal leveled the score at 1-1, igniting hope among the home supporters. The match became an intense, end-to-end affair.
The game grew increasingly feisty as both sides pressed for a winner. Several yellow cards were issued, highlighting the match's competitive nature. Napoli introduced fresh legs, including Romelu Lukaku, Stanislav Lobotka, and Matteo Politano.
In a thrilling conclusion, Napoli's attacking pressure finally broke Verona's resistance. Deep into stoppage time, in the 90+6 minute, substitute Romelu Lukaku delivered the decisive blow. He slotted home the winning goal, sending the Napoli bench into raptures. Lukaku was immediately booked for unsportsmanlike conduct during his celebration.
Statistics reflected Napoli's attacking efficiency, though not their overall dominance. They registered 5 shots on target from 8 total attempts, compared to Verona's 2 shots on target from 9 total. Napoli controlled 65% of possession, yet their Expected Goals (xG) stood at 0.85 to Verona's 0.46.
This crucial 2-1 victory solidifies Napoli's position in the top three of Serie A. Hellas Verona will rue the missed opportunity to secure a vital point at home. They will need to regroup quickly for their upcoming fixtures.
