Rasmus Højlund's first-half strike proved decisive as Napoli edged Udinese 1-0 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with the visitors reduced to ten men in the second half.
Napoli dominated possession from the opening whistle, controlling 67 percent of the ball against a defensive Udinese side. The home team's attacking intent was clear early on, with several chances created in the opening minutes. Udinese sat deep and compact, looking to hit on the counter-attack whenever possible. The tactical battle was set: Napoli's attacking prowess against Udinese's organized defense.
The breakthrough came in the 24th minute when Rasmus Højlund finished clinically after good build-up play. The Danish striker showed composure in front of goal, converting his opportunity with precision. Højlund's movement had been sharp all match, and he made the most of Napoli's early dominance. The goal gave the hosts a deserved lead and shifted the momentum firmly in their favor.
Napoli continued to press forward after taking the lead, creating additional chances through their midfield and attacking players. Højlund remained a constant threat, testing Udinese's backline with intelligent runs and positioning. However, Udinese's goalkeeper made several important saves to keep the deficit manageable. The visitors showed resilience despite being second best for much of the first half.
Half-time arrived with Napoli leading 1-0, having created the better chances and controlled the game's rhythm. The home side had registered 6 shots on target compared to Udinese's 3. Napoli's passing accuracy stood at 92 percent, reflecting their control of proceedings. Udinese needed to find a way to break down Napoli's defense in the second period.
The second half saw Napoli continue their dominance, though Udinese showed more attacking intent early on. A turning point arrived in the 64th minute when Cristian Kabasele received a red card for Udinese. The dismissal fundamentally changed the match's complexion, leaving the visitors with a significant disadvantage. Napoli's numerical advantage allowed them to push forward more aggressively.
With a man advantage, Napoli controlled the tempo and limited Udinese's attacking opportunities. The hosts managed the game expertly, preventing any real scares at the back. Udinese's task became increasingly difficult as fatigue set in during the final stages. Despite their efforts, the visitors could not find an equalizer.
Udinese received three additional yellow cards in the second half as frustration mounted. Jaka Karlstrom was cautioned in the 51st minute, followed by bookings for Andraz Sporar and Lautaro Miller. The accumulation of cards reflected Udinese's struggle to contain Napoli's attacking play. The visitors finished the match with ten men and without a goal.
Statistically, Napoli's superiority was evident throughout. They created an expected goals total of 1.81 compared to Udinese's 0.44. The hosts completed 701 passes with 92 percent accuracy, dominating possession. Napoli's defense also performed well, limiting Udinese to just 3 shots on target across the entire match.
Højlund's performance earned him a match rating of 8.5, with the striker completing both his shots on target. His movement and positioning created problems for Udinese's defense all evening. Juan Jesus contributed defensively with 2 tackles in his 45-minute appearance. Napoli's defensive unit, led by Amir Rrahmani and Giovanni Di Lorenzo, remained solid throughout.
The victory moves Napoli to 76 points in second place with one match remaining. Udinese remains in tenth position with 50 points from their 38 matches. Napoli's form continues strong with their latest win in a sequence of positive results. The result keeps the Serie A title race intriguing as the season approaches its conclusion.
