Ancelotti and the obsession of giving minutes to those who play less. Now all he has to do is beat the super Atalanta | First page

Naples cannot take advantage of it. He tries, of course, at least for a while, to take the three points, but fails. Like Juve and Inter, he also pays the Champions e syndrome to hook up at least third place he just has to beat Atalanta in the half-week shift. Obviously, the opportunity to shorten the gap and lengthen hopes is obvious to everyone, but this does not mean that Napoli starts the tarantolato game. Not for this reason is its geometry loaded with anxiety. Indeed, he acts as a serene, mature, confident team, despite on the other hand there is a poisoned Spal from an ungenerous ranking for what he can do, but still disturbing and, above all, messenger of bad news. As if to say: this is a game that cares about a draw and with only one difference: the Napoli has in the legs the fatigue of the Champions and in the head the obsession to give minutes to those who have less than the rest of the company.Compatibly, of course, with the death of defenders that once again forces Ancelotti to emergency solutions in the third row. So, if three changes are understandable, at least at the start, Milik for Lozano, Insigne for Fabian and Elmas for Callejon – it is hard to share that Ospina-Meret, since for a goalkeeper continuity is so much stuff. But Ancelotti, as we know, has long since abandoned certain conceptions, certain principles, even though this time, unlike the more recent past, he does not make revolutions.

Certainly it does not do Simple. For him only a couple of tweaks compared to the match with Cagliari: Strefezza on the outside and Paloschi partner of Petagna in front. For the rest, Spal certainly does not lose the desire to be respected by putting it immediately on the level of intensity. And in fact, he immediately takes the stage. It makes Naples understand that his Sunday will be very complicated. Indeed, he does more: because after three to three minutes, Ospina trembles and the crossbar shakes on Petagna's left foot. But the danger for Napoli is an alarm clock. The team of Ancelotti gains in fact. And shortens the distances between the lines, which also allows him to quickly retrieve a lot of balls. And so it is that after nine minutes the Azzurri of Naples take the lead. The right chain Malcuit-Allan works, inviting Milik to shoot from afar. And Milik does not pray. In truth it is not a great shot and I miss who knows what stone, but it is just enough to make goals.

A shot a goal, if you want. Spal, on the other hand, must pass two to pass. Indeed, after Petagna, it's Kurtic's turn, who (16 ') in the middle of the field enjoys a low cross from Strefezza and Buca Ospina with the complicity of the blue midfielders who leave him too much freedom.
Yes, maybe the game is open, fought, but also a bit confusing and certainly lacking in emotion. A great run, but little else to keep in mind. Probably thanks to Spal, because it is the first time since the start of the season that Napoli has built so few goals. Stuck, in short, the game in terms of emotions. So much so that you have to go beyond half an hour to find a couple. And that is, when Tomovic (35 ') steals a goal ball from Milik two meters from the line and three minutes later, when Federico La Penna first gives Napoli a penalty and then takes it away from the Var convinced. , Vicari's arm on Mertens' attempt to break free for the shot. Thus the first half dies. Which is not that great and if a couple of indications give, it is that Elmas can adapt to two or three roles, but not to the external one that does not benefit him and miss the team; the other: it is easy to understand why Mertens and Milik have been paired only in preseason. In fact, they are not spinning, and the thing penalizes Naples, it is obvious.

Well, like this, the game seems to have few outlets. Something must be done to shake her up. And then Semplici tries: out Paloschi and inside Floccari. But there are very few balloons in front of it. One only, if you want; when in the beginning of the second half (7 ’) Vicari, on the corner of Murgia, deflects on goal and Ospina makes one of the most beautiful saves of his career. One of those that define themselves: miracle. And that's where the Spal practically disappears. From here on, in fact, it's all Naples. Also because with Fabian in place of Elmas, Callejon instead of the battered Malcuit and then also Llorente for Mertens, Ancelotti finally draws another Napoli. And it is here that the match also becomes a personal matter between Berisha and Milik. At least three times in a quarter of an hour – and after a pole centered by Fabian – in fact, the Spal goalkeeper makes Ancelotti desperate in centravantone. It is a boarding, the blue one, with Kpoulibaly often later also than Milik and Llorente. But no use. Napoli does not pass. Different sensations, instead, in the Spal house. Of course, one point is little, but better than nothing.

THE TABLE

Spal-Napoli 1-1 (first half 1-1)

Markers: 9'p.t. Milik (N), 16 'p.t. Kurtic (S)

Assist: 9 'p.t. Allan (N), 16 'p.t. Strefezza (S)

Spal (3-5-2): Berisha; Igor (from 9 's.t. Cionek), Vicars, Tomovic; Reca, Kurtic (from 26 's.t. Valoti), Missiroli, Murgia, Strefezza; Paloschi (from 15 's.t. Floccari), Petagna. Simple

Napoli (4-4-2): Ospina; Malcuit (from 24 's.t. Callejon), Koulibaly, Luperto, Di Lorenzo; Insigne, Allan, Elmas (from 9 's.t. Fabian Ruiz), Zielinski; Milik, Mertens (from 24 's.t. Llorente).

Referee: The Pen of Rome

Booked: 25 'Strefezza (S), 45' p.t. Tomovic (S), 48 's.t. Cionek (S), 49 's.t. Berisha (S)