Fourth defeat in six games for Cagliari, which never plays on the field of leaders Napoli. Mazzarri tries to counter the Campania with a defensive form, but the rossoblùs go under already after 11 minutes and never manage to worry the hosts. Osimhen opens the scoring, Insigne puts it in the safe following a penalty obtained by the Nigerian himself.
Mazzarri covers himself at Maradona to contain the Neapolitan firepower forward, rossoblù on the field with the 4-4-1-1, Joao Pedro the only striker and Marin acting behind him. This is the eleven owner chosen by the coach: Cragno, Zappa, Godin, Walukiewicz, Caceres, Nandez, Strootman, Deiola, Lykogiannis, Marin, Joao Pedro.
Luciano Spalletti lined up his team with a 4-2-3-1: Ospina, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Koulibaly, Mario Rui, Anguissa, Fabian Ruiz, Zielinski, Politano, Insigne, Osimhen.
Piccinini di Forlì directs the match.
FIRST HALF - The script is what was expected. Napoli takes possession and tries to sink when they see some space, Cagliari is barricaded behind the line of the ball to contain.
But Mazzarri's plans go up in smoke already at 11 ', when Osimhen unlocks the result. Anguissa with a nice launch fishing Zielinski in the area on the right side: the rossoblù are uncovered on that side, with Caceres slipped by the insertion of the Polish. On Zielinski he climbs Godin, but the blue number 20 puts in the middle a tense low cross on which Osimhen sling, who with a movement from a pure center forward anticipates Walukiewicz at the near post and makes 1-0.
The goal conceded does not change the attitude of the rossoblù, who make it hard to get out with the ball and just defend. Napoli continues to manage possession with patience and to sink when it can, with high pressure does not let Mazzarri's men out, unable to restart. The Maginot set up by the Sardinians, however, holds up well, and in the final time Cagliari does nothing but defend the small disadvantage to try to play it in the second.
There are two conclusions by Osimhen and Ruiz, both on the side, a header outside the Nigerian and a two-time save, not difficult, by Cragno on Politano.
Cagliari shows up with the usual Nandez, who gains the bottom on the right with a good personal action, but on his cross flies Ospina. Then a well-maneuvered action leads to an excellent cross by Lykogiannis, but Mario Rui is very good at anticipating Nandez who came very fast at the far post.
SECOND HALF - The script does not change, it is always Napoli to attack. And after 5 minutes with an enveloping maneuver he sends Insigne to the shot from inside the area, ball on the outside of the net. Then a devastating action by Osimhen who commits Cragno from the edge.
At 11 'Osimhen, still devastating, goes away to Godin by winning the physical duel on the Uruguayan, enters the area, brakes and is knocked down by the number 2 of Cagliari. Clear penalty, from the spot Insigne beats Cragno and doubles in the 12th minute. The playmaker tries again shortly after a free kick, with the usual shot that ends up central in Cragno's arms.
There is no match: Napoli is also a little academy and with a prolonged choral action sends Zielinski to the shot from 15 meters, the ball very little to the side.
At 68 'the first changes: Mazzarri puts the second striker, Keita, for Deiola and also inserts Ceppitelli for the yellow card Walukiewicz. Spalletti is a relay, Elmas and Lozano for Zieliski and Politano. Immediately after Anguissa touches the 3-0 with a right at the edge of the pole.
At 15 'from the end the driver of the hosts also comes out, there is Petagna for Osimhen. Out also Insigne, in its place Ounas.
In the final, Napoli plays to save and puts to sleep the game against a helpless Cagliari and absolutely unable to sting. The only one to try is Nandez, who uses an opponent's mistake to wedge himself in the area, return and serve backwards for Strootman who misses the solution looking for an assist in the center of the area where there are only blue shirts.
At 85 ', after a solo with a central shot by Lozano, there is also room for Grassi and Pereiro for Strootman and Lykogiannis. The whirlwind of changes continues, Demme makes Fabian Ruiz catch his breath and the two teams are only waiting for the triple whistle that puts an end to an agony that lasted 93 minutes for the rossoblù fans. The Cagliari championship begins, hopefully, on Friday night at Unipol Domus against Venezia.
(Unioneonline / L)