By Anna Italia
Follow me in Twitter @ItalianSerieA,
Facebook: Anna Italia Page

 

40% Ball Possession EMPOLI and 60% Ball Possession NAPOLI
  Empoli 2 – 2 Napoli 
3′ Riccardo Saponara           7′ Lorenzo Insigne
18′ Manuel Pucciarelli       50′ Allan Loureiro

 

Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Empoli, 18th position with 0 points and a negative goal difference of -3
Napoli, 8th position with 3 points and a positive goal difference of +1

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	Goals	DIFF	Points
14	Napoli	2	0	1	1	3:4	-1	1
18	Empoli	2	0	0	2	2:5	-3	0

 

 

A match so close to win for Empoli, but at the end ending with a draw.  Empoli finally grabbing 1 point in this season.   Empoli showing problems in the defense.

It’s a bad situation for both teams.  Pressure was for Napoli usually among the top 5 teams and now with only 2 points.   Napoli have not won a match, yet.   Empoli  are in deep trouble too losing all previous 2 games and remaining with this single 1 point.   It’s an emotional match for current Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri who was the ex coach for Empoli leading them to salvation.

It is Empoli to open the score in the 3rd minute with midfielder Riccardo Saponara defeating Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina with a left footed shot in the bottom left corner.  The assist is by Piotr Zielinski.

Napoli reacting and in the 7th minute equalizing for the 1-1.  It is forward Lorenzo Insigne to equalize defeating Empoli goalkeeper Lucas Skorupski with a right footed shot in the bottom left corner.  The assist is by forward Manolo Gabbiadini.

Empoli taking the lead again in the 18th minute.  Forward Manuel Pucciarelli defeating goalkeeper Reina with a right footed shot in the bottom right corner.  The assist is by Riccardo Saponara, surely, key player for Empoli providing goal and assist.

A slap for Empoli unable to hold the victory!.   In the 60th minute, Napoli equalizing for the final 2-2.  It is midfielder Allan to save Napoli defeating goalkeeper Skorupski with a right footed shot in the bottom right corner.  The assist again is by Gabbiadini.

 

• There are 5 precedents at the Castellani Stadium for Empoli vs Napoli.   Stats showing Empoli with 2 wins and 3 draws.  Napoli have not won a match at the Castellani.   Will this be the first one?

Here is EMPOLI official starting lineup by coach Marco Giampaolo:

EMPOLI (4-3-1-2) Skorupski; Zambelli, Tonelli, Barba, Mari Ryi; Zielinski, Diousse, Croce; Saponara; Maccarone, Pucciarelli.

Here is NAPOLI official starting lineup by coach Maurizio Sarri:

NAPOLI (4-3-1-2) Reina; Maggio, Albiol, Chiriches, Hysaj; Allan, Valdifiori, Hamsik; Insigne; Higuain, Gabbiadini

 

Click the video to watch the highlights of the match, Empoli 2- 2 Napoli, Sunday 13 September 2015

 

======================================
Buy SSC Napoli Tickets Empoli FC Tickets

======================================

 

Stats BEFORE the game.  Top scorer for EMPOLI:  Riccardo Saponara with 2 goals

Top scorer for NAPOLI:  Gonzalo Higuain with 2 goals

Empoli	Goals	Goals	Napoli
Saponara, Riccardo	2	2	Gonzalo Higuain
		1	Marek Hamsik

 

Stats.  Here are the last 3 games of EMPOLI:  3 lost

29/08/15	SA	Milan – Empoli	2:1	Round 2
23/08/15	SA	Empoli – Chievo	1:3	Round 1
15/08/15	CI	Empoli – Vicenza	0:1	R3

 

Here are the last 3 games of NAPOLI:  1 win, 1 draw, 1 lost

30/08/15	SA	Napoli – Sampdoria	2:2	Round 2
23/08/15	SA	Sassuolo – Napoli	2:1	Round 1
14/08/15	CFG	Latina – Napoli	0:5

Photo:   facebook.com/SSCNapoli

 

Photo:  facebook.com/empolifcofficialpage

 

2015 – 2016 Italian Serie A Week 3

Empoli 2 – 2 Napoli
Sunday 13 September 2015
Carlo Castellani Stadium
Empoli, Italy

15:00

Referee: BANTI
Assistants: STALLONE – POSADO
Fourth Official: LONGO
ADD1: CELI
ADD2: LA PENNA

Goals: 3′ Riccardo Saponara (E), 7′ Lorenzo Insigne (N), 18′ Manuel Pucciarelli (E), 50′ Allan Loureiro  (N)

Official formations – lineups:

EMPOLI (4-3-1-2) Skorupski; Zambelli (79′ Laurini), Tonelli, Barba, Mari Ryi; Zielinski (71′ Paredes), Diousse, Croce; Saponara; Maccarone (68′ Livaja), Pucciarelli.

Subs not used:  (Pugliesi, Pelagotti, Bittante, Costa, Camporese, Ronaldo, Maiello, Krunic, Piu).

Coach: Marco  Giampaolo.

NAPOLI (4-3-1-2) Reina; Maggio, Albiol, Chiriches, Hysaj; Allan, Valdifiori (58′ Jorginho), Hamsik; Insigne (72′ Callejon); Higuain, Gabbiadini (65′ Mertens).

Subs not used: (Rafael, Gabriel, Strinic, Henrique, Koulibaly, Ghoulam, David Lopez, Dezi, El Kaddouri). All.: Sarri.

Match Stats

Empoli	Match Stats	Napoli
2	Goals	2
16(3)	Shots (on goal)	17(4)
12	Fouls	14
5	Corner kicks	5
3	Offsides	5
40%	Ball Possession	60%
2	Yellow Cards	4
0	Red Cards	0
2	Saves	1