By Anna Italia
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55% Ball Possession AS ROMA and 45% Ball Possessio NAPOLI
– AS Roma 1 – 2 Napoli
89′ Kevin Strootman             26′ Dries Mertens
.                                                      50′ Dries Mertens

 

Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
AS Roma, 2nd position with 59 points and a positive goal difference of +34
Napoli, 3rd position with 54 points and a positive goal difference of +31

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	Goals	DIFF	Points
2	Roma	26	19	2	5	57:23	34	59
3	Napoli	26	16	6	4	60:29	31	54

 

It’s a direct match towards the leadership.   AS Roma keeping the 2nd position with 59 points while Napoli in the 3rd position with 57 points being only -2 points below the Roman gladiators.  The last time they confronted each other for a direct duel was on April 25, 2016.  Surely, a precious victory for Napoli who had not won at the Olimpico since February 12, 2011.   Roma losing their first home game this season.

It is Napoli to surprise Roma by opening the score in the 26th minute silencing the Olimpico Stadium.   Forward Dries Mertens defeating AS Roma goalkeeper Szczęsny with a right footed shot in the center.  The assist is by midfielder Marek Hamsik.   This is the 17th goal of the season by Mertens.

Photo: facebook.com/SSCNapoli

Roma not able to to react.  Napoli scoring a second goal and then is ruled out for offside.

A redemption moment for Mertens in the 50th minute.  Mertens scoring his 18th goal this season and this time is validated.  Mertens defeating goalkeeper Szczęsny from close range with a right footed shot in the center.  The assist is by forward Lorenzo Insigne with a cross.

Roma shortening the distance in the 89th minute with the honor goal.  It is midfielder Kevin Strootman to defeat Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.  The assist is by Diego Perotti.

Here is AS ROMA official starting lineup by coach Luciano Spalletti:

AS ROMA (4-2-3-1): Szczęsny; Rüdiger, Fazio, Manolas, Juan Jesus;De Rossi, Strootman; Perotti, Nainggolan, Salah; Džeko.

Here is NAPOLI official starting lineup by coach Maurizio Sarri:

NAPOLI (4-3-3): Reina; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Rog, , Diawara, Hamšík; Callejón, Mertens, Insigne.

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Click the video to watch AS ROMA 1 – 2 NAPOLI highlights on Saturday 4 March 2017

Stats BEFORE the game.  Top scorer of AS ROMA:  Edi Dzeko with 19 goals

Top scorer of NAPOLI:  Dries Mertens with 16 goals

AS Roma	Goals	Goals	Napoli
Dzeko, Edin	19	16	Mertens, Dries
Salah, Mohamed	9	10	Hamsik, Marek
Nainggolan, Radja	9	8	Insigne, Lorenzo
Perotti, Diego	7	8	Callejon, Jose
El Shaarawy, Stephan	3	4	Milik, Arek

Stats.   Here are the last 3 games of AS ROMA:  1 win, 2 lost

01/03/17	CI	Lazio – Roma				2:0	S
26/02/17	SA	Inter – Roma				1:3	26
23/02/17	UELK	Roma – Villarreal				0:1	1

Stats.  Here are the last 3 games of NAPOLI:   1 win, 2 lost

28/02/17	CI	Juventus – Napoli				3:1	S
25/02/17	SA	Napoli – Atalanta				0:2	26
19/02/17	SA	Chievo – Napoli				1:3	25

 

Photo: facebook.com/SSCNapoli

 

 

2016 – 2017 Italian Serie A Week 27

AS Roma 1 – 2 Napoli
Saturday 4 March 2017
Olimpico di Roma Stadium
Rome, Italy

15:00

Referee: BANTI
Assistants: TONOLINI – DI LIBERATORE
Fourth Official: LONGO
ADD1: ORSATO
ADD2: GIACOMELLI

Goals:  26′ Dries Mertens (N), 50′ Dries Mertens (N), 89′ Kevin Strootman  (R)

Official lineups – formations:

AS ROMA (4-2-3-1): Szczęsny; Rüdiger, Fazio, Manolas, Juan Jesus;De Rossi, Strootman; Perotti, Nainggolan, Salah; Džeko.

Subs: Allisson, Lobonț, Mario Rui, Emerson Palmieri, Vermaelen, Bruno Peres, Grenier, Paredes, Gerson, Salah, Totti

Coach:  Luciano Spalletti.

NAPOLI (4-3-3): Reina; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Rog, , Diawara, Hamšík; Callejón, Mertens, Insigne.

Subs: Rafael, Sepe, Strinic, Maggio, Maksimovic, Chiriches, Zieliński, Diawara, Allan, Giaccherini, Milik, Pavoletti.

Coach:  Maurizio Sarri.