Naples – Napoli let a lead slip to draw 1-1 at home to Lecce in an intense game which saw both sides have their chances.
Luciano Spalletti’s side looked like they would be opening the scoring early on but it was the visitors with the first big chance of the game. Alex Meret expertly stopped a penalty by Lorenzo Colombo in the 25th minute but soon after Elif Elmas struck for the hosts. However shortly after Colombo found redemption by driving in a left-footed shot to equalise.
Napoli rang the changes in the second half, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Stanislav Lobotka, Hirving Lozano and Piotr Lielinski entering the fray. Despite having chances aplenty through Matteo Politano, Victor Osimhen and Leo Ostigard they were unable to break Lecce down.
The game ended with Napoli drawing for a second time in a row, and Spalletti’s men are already thinking about their next encounter, at the Olimpico on Saturday against Lazio. This is followed by their Champions League opener against Liverpool on 6 September. Onwards and upwards!
Napoli 1-1 Lecce (HT 1-1)
Scorers: 27 Elmas, 31 Colombo
NAPOLI: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Minjae, Olivera, Anguissa (85 Simeone), Ndombele (46 Lobotka), Politano (72 Lozano), Raspadori (46 Zielinski), Elmas (56 Kvaratskhelia), Osimhen.
Coach: Spalletti.
LECCE: Falcone; Gendrey, Pezzella, Baschirotto, Tuia, Helgason (46 Gonzalez), Hjulmand, Askildsen (62 Blin), Banda (75 Listkowski), Di Francesco (62' Strefezza), Colombo (70 Ceesay).
Coach: Baroni.
Referee: Marcenaro di Genova
Booked: Politano, Hjulmand, Colombo, Gonzalez, Gendrey
