A dynamic and exciting match unfolded at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, where Napoli emerged victorious in matchday 4 with a score of 3-2. The home side delivered a performance that thrilled their fans, overcoming Pisa in a match filled with twists and turns. Alberto Gilardino’s team faced disappointment after fighting hard but ultimately falling short. The goals from Mbala Nzola (14’), from the penalty spot, and Lorran (44’) for Pisa weren’t enough to match the striking power of Napoli, which saw contributions from Billy Gilmour (38’), Leonardo Spinazzola (27’), and Lorenzo Lucca (36’).
The decisive play came from Napoli in the 36th minute of the second half, when Lorenzo Lucca found the net after a brilliant assist from Scott McTominay. Lucca skillfully controlled the ball before striking past goalkeeper Adrian Semper.
Billy Gilmour was awarded the man of the match for his outstanding performance, contributing one goal and threatening the opposition’s goal on two occasions. Leonardo Spinazzola also shone defensively, solidifying his side’s backline and adding a goal.
Napoli’s coach Antonio Conte arranged his team in a 4-5-1 formation, featuring Alex Meret in goal, with Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Sam Beukema, Alessandro Buongiorno, and Leonardo Spinazzola forming the defense. The midfield comprised Billy Gilmour, Matteo Politano, Eljif Elmas, Kevin De Bruyne, and Scott McTominay, while Rasmus Hojlund led the attack.
On the other hand, Pisa lined up in a 3-5-2 under Alberto Gilardino, with Adrian Semper guarding the net. Their defensive unit included Simone Canestrelli, Antonio Caracciolo, and Mateus Lusuardi, while Mehdi Léris, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Michel Aebischer, Marius Marin, and Giovanni Bonfanti operated in midfield, and the attacking duo was formed by Stefano Moreo and Mbala Nzola.
The match was officiated by referee Valerio Crezzini.
Looking ahead, Napoli will face a challenging away fixture against Milan, while Pisa is set to host Fiorentina. Following this win, Napoli climbs to 12 points, placing them at the top of the table. In contrast, Pisa remains with just one point, lingering at the bottom of the standings.
Substitutions for Napoli
56’ 2T – Billy Gilmour was replaced by Stanislav Lobotka, and Eljif Elmas was substituted for Frank Anguissa.
76’ 2T – Rasmus Hojlund was replaced by Lorenzo Lucca.
Yellow Cards for Napoli:
22’ 2T – Leonardo Spinazzola (Unsporting behavior).
Substitutions for Pisa
60’ 2T – Mehdi Léris was replaced by Juan Cuadrado, and Stefano Moreo was substituted for Henrik Meister.
73’ 2T – Mbala Nzola was replaced by Matteo Tramoni.
74’ 2T – Giovanni Bonfanti was replaced by Samuele Angori.
79’ 2T – Marius Marin was substituted for Lorran, and Alessandro Buongiorno was replaced by Juan Jesus.
Yellow Cards for Pisa:
4’ 2T – Antonio Caracciolo (Holding an opponent to prevent advancement).
20’ 2T – Alberto Gilardino (Insulting or disapproving of the referee).
36’ 2T – Mateus Lusuardi (Holding an opponent to prevent advancement).