The key facts

  • «Venezia» beat «Napoli» 1:0 — their first Serie A win over the Neapolitans since 1942
  • Davide Nicola replaced the dismissed Giovanni Stroppa and won his debut match
  • «Napoli» have lost 5 of their first 9 matches in all competitions for the first time in 25 years

Sensation in Venice

«Napoli» suffered another defeat in an unsuccessful start to the season: on Saturday, «Venezia», led by debutant head coach Davide Nicola, won 1:0. Nicola, a specialist known for rescuing teams, was appointed this week in place of the dismissed Giovanni Stroppa after last season's Serie B winners failed to pick up a single point in their first six matchdays.

Course of the match

The only goal was scored by Nigerian forward Acor Adams in the 49th minute: he met a long pass and beat goalkeeper Alex Meret with a deflected shot. This is «Venezia»'s first victory over «Napoli» in Serie A since 1942. Massimiliano Allegri responded by bringing on the rested Rasmus Højlund and Kevin De Bruyne. Højlund immediately created a chance, but Juan Jesus cleared the ball off the goal line, and in the second half he won a penalty after a foul by Matías Moreno. However, De Bruyne's spot kick was saved by «Venezia» goalkeeper Filip Stanković, son of former «Inter» midfielder Dejan Stanković, who dived low to his right. In the closing stages, Stanković made another series of saves, including spectacular ones from shots by Stanislav Lobotka and Alisson Santos.

«Napoli»'s crisis

For Allegri's team it was a second consecutive defeat after the midweek Champions League setback against «Villarreal». «Napoli» have lost five of their first nine matches in all competitions for the first time in 25 years and sit ninth with 10 points after seven matchdays. «Venezia» remain bottom with three points. «There are moments like this in football, and there is only one way out: to keep working seriously and professionally, be more focused and turn this disappointment into anger,» Allegri said at a press conference ahead of the home Champions League match against «Bodø/Glimt» on Tuesday. «Our task is to turn things around, starting with the Champions League.» Later on Saturday, league leaders «Inter» played away at «Bologna», while «Roma» hosted «Genoa».