The Azzurri draw at San Siro
Napoli drew at San Siro after playing an extremely intense match. Inter scored the opener with a diagonal shot by Federico Dimarco. Napoli immediately responded with Scott McTominay: the Napoli forward won the ball back in the box and scored the equaliser just before the 30-minute mark.
The game was just as intense in the second half. Inter once again took the lead in the 73rd minute following a successful penalty by Hakan Calhanoglu, who slotted it into the corner. However, Napoli refused to give up and just 10 minutes from the end, McTominay met Noa Lang’s cross with a first-time, outside-of-the-boot shot to score the final equaliser: it ended 2-2.
Cristian Stellini, Antonio Conte’s assistant coach, had this to say about the game:
“It’s an important result. We earned it by showing great character, and we shouldn’t forget that we’ve had a complicated week.
“Making that comeback against such a good opponent like Inter and always reacting to the other team taking the lead is truly remarkable and shows that Napoli are a solid team.
“We’ve proven that we deserve the title that we won last season and are worthy of wearing the Scudetto patch. We are very happy with the response we gave and the team’s performance. We must continue playing with this mentality and physical strength. After the 2-1 goal by Inter, we really showed what we’re physically capable of doing, and that allowed us to score the final equaliser.”
Here is what Giovanni Di Lorenzo had to say about the game:
“It was a hard-fought match and the draw in the end was a fair result. It was a nice competition and I believe that ours was a high-level performance.
“Even though we went behind twice, we responded well and showed that we are a solid team with the right character and mentality.
“The coach congratulated us at the end of the game because we’d prepared this match with great care.Today’s result is a source of confidence and self-awareness for us.”
Rasmus Hojlund also commented on the match:
“We’re happy with our performance and with how the team kept up with Inter. I wish I’d scored at the start of the second half, but I’m happy with how I performed on the pitch.
“I believe I’ve improved a lot since I first arrived at Napoli. This is a wonderful experience for me and I hope I can continue this journey.
“Conte has helped me a lot and I’m fired up: I want to give it my all throughout the rest of the season because I’m completely immersing myself in this wonderful atmosphere here in Naples.”
INTER 2-2 NAPOLI (HT: 1-1)
SCORERS: Dimarco 9, McTominay 26, Calhanoglu 73, McTominay 82
INTER: Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Barella, Calhanoglu (Sucic 88), Zielinski (Mikhitarian 62), Dimarco (Carlos Augusto 88) Thuram (Pio Esposito 83), Lautaro Martinez (Bonny 88).
Coach: Cristian Chivu
NAPOLI: Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema (Noa Lang 78), Rrahmani, Juan Jesus; Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Politano (Mazzocchi 90), Hojlund, Elmas.
Coach: Antonio Conte
Referee: Doveri
BOOKED: Juan Jesus
