VARELA’S EIGHTH GOAL, THEN NAPOLI WIN 4-1

In the ninth round of Serie A, Napoli secure a 4-1 win at the Brianteo against a Monza side who had found the net through Varela for his eighth league goal and had threatened to trouble the Italian runners-up on several occasions.

The home side make a strong start and come close to taking the lead in less than a minute. Birindelli plays a one-two with Foe Ondoa in midfield, drives through the centre and leaves his markers behind before unleashing a powerful shot: Milinkovic-Savic pushes it away. Napoli appear to struggle with Monza’s bright opening, but at 10' they take the lead with their first real attack. Di Lorenzo plays a through ball into Hojlund’s path, and the striker makes no mistake in front of Tornqvist. Monza resume their brave attacking play and, after Lucchesi makes a crucial intervention to deny Politano, Foe Ondoa comes close to making it 1-1 at 18'. A swift counterattack is led by former Monza player Ngonge, who is stopped by Olivera, but the ball falls to Foe Ondoa. He controls it and shoots right-footed towards the far post, narrowly missing the target. Juric’s side play with courage and personality. At 24', Robinson gets away down the left and finds Varela, who turns brilliantly past Marìn before shooting: Milinkovic holds on to the effort. Napoli’s defence is under pressure again at 27', when Mangas delivers a dangerous cross into the box. Milinkovic-Savic parries the ball into Varela’s path, and the Portuguese striker comes close to equalising from the rebound. The duel continues a minute later, when the striker opens up his body and curls a right-footed effort towards the far post. The Napoli goalkeeper produces a superb save to keep his side in front. Monza continue to pour forward and, from the resulting corner, they threaten once more: Colombo’s first-time right-footed volley flies wide. The deserved equaliser arrives at 43'. An unstoppable Robinson once again tears down the left and delivers a cross into the middle, where Gustavo Varela is waiting to finish with a striker’s instinctive header. It is his fourth consecutive goal, his eighth in the league and his tenth of the season for the Portuguese number 9, sending the Brianteo crowd into delirium. The teams go into half-time level at 1-1.

Juric immediately brings on Carboni, who celebrates his 100th official appearance for Monza. The second half begins with the Biancorossi once again on the attack. At 47', they launch another dangerous counterattack, with the same two players involved. Robinson once again escapes Napoli’s defence and plays the ball into Varela’s path. The striker dribbles, cuts inside onto his left foot and shoots, but this time his aim is off target. Within seconds, the match swings from a potential 2-1 to 1-2. At 48', Politano finds the bottom corner at the far post with a precise left-footed shot along the ground, putting Napoli back in front. It is a bitter blow for Monza, who had sensed an opportunity to take the lead after a strong response. The home side refuse to be discouraged and resume their attacking efforts. At 54', Foe Ondoa unleashes a powerful strike, only for Milinkovic to produce another outstanding save. Juric makes a double substitution at 59', bringing on Akinsanmiro and Colpani. Napoli look to strike on the counterattack through Hojlund, who turns and shoots at 61': Tornqvist makes a superb save to keep the score down. However, the Swedish goalkeeper is powerless from the ensuing corner, as Rafa Marin rises highest at 62' and heads the ball into the bottom corner to make it 1-3. Having weathered Monza’s pressure, Napoli grow in confidence and begin to play with greater freedom. They add a fourth goal through substitute De Bruyne, who is on hand to convert Lang’s assist at 67'. The scoreline is harsh on Monza, considering how well they had competed. Juric turns to Zeballos in an attempt to change the course of the match. Napoli, however, continue to showcase their quality, and at 72' Tornqvist produces another excellent save to deny McTominay’s placed effort. Antov also comes on for Monza at 73' as the home side attempt an unlikely comeback. Zeballos produces a fine solo run at 80', before Napoli’s defence gets in ahead of Colpani at the last moment. The Argentine tries again at 89', but he is unable to cap off another promising individual move with a decisive finish. The match ends in a 4-1 victory for Napoli.

The biancorossi will return to action on Saturday, 31st October, at 3:00 PM, when they travel to Bologna.