Serie A

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·7 April 2024

Serie A | Monza 2-4 Napoli: Scudetto style is back

Napoli were trailing Monza for much of the game, but suddenly sprung to life with four spectacular goals including a Victor Osimhen header, Matteo Politano volley and Piotr Zielinski scorcher.

This was a head-to-head for eighth place, with only three points separating the sides. The Partenopei had just one win and four draws in their last seven rounds and Jesper Lindstrom injured, though Kvicha Kvaratskhelia returned from a bruised thigh and Cyril Ngonge had a surprise start. Matteo Pessina was suspended, with Danilo D’Ambrosio, Samuele Vignato and Gianluca Caprari sidelined.

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Visiting fans staged a protest, leaving the away end empty for the opening 15 minutes, then hurling insults when they did come in.

It took just nine minutes for the hosts to break the deadlock, as Alessio Zerbin – who is on loan from Napoli – whipped in a cross from the left for Milan Djuric to hold off Juan Jesus and nod in from six yards.

Milan Đurić ghosts into the box beating Juan Jesus to the ball, as Napoli now trail to Monza 😬 — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 7, 2024

Giovanni Di Lorenzo fired over from close range after a corner pinballed around, while Ngonge had his shot charged down after dribbling into the box.

Monza lost Dany Mota Carvalho to a sprained ankle and Ngonge had penalty appeals waved away for Zerbin’s rather clumsy tackle at the back post.

Napoli had a huge opportunity on 40 minutes when Michele Di Gregorio mis-controlled a back-pass, just about getting his toes to the ball before Osimhen, then made the save on Kvaratskhelia’s follow-up.

Djuric acted as a defender to prevent Osimhen tapping in the Amir Rrahmani knockdown on a corner and after the restart Ngonge had the ball in the net with an angled drive, but had wandered offside.

Napoli finally did equalise when Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa floated in a cross from the right and Osimhen launched himself into the sky for the most towering of headers. It was almost too towering, as he landed on his face and cut his lip, but was able to shake it off.

Air Osimhen ✈️ — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 7, 2024

Moments later, the game had been turned around completely in simply stunning fashion. The ball was deflected to the edge of the area, where substitute Politano hit a stunning left-foot volley into the far top corner.

Matteo Politano with the sweetest first-time strike you'll see this weekend 🚀 In the blink of an eye, Napoli have turned things around! 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Nr23xXhuLG — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 7, 2024

The Partenopei seemed to be reborn, as they then surged into a 3-1 lead when Kvaratskhelia laid it off outside the box for Piotr Zielinski’s rocket in off the underside of the crossbar, giving Di Gregorio no chance.

Piotr Zieliński makes it three goals in six minutes for Napoli 😤 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/w7tStnRjib — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 7, 2024

Monza weren’t giving up either, as Andrea Colpani cut inside and bent a left-foot finish into the far top corner with the aid of a slight deflection.

Andrea Colpani replies immediately for Monza with a piece of individual brilliance ✨ This game 🥵 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/8JnVrsCG6J — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 7, 2024

It was very nearly 4-2 moments after that, as Di Gregorio rushed off his line to deny Osimhen after Anguissa knocked down a long ball wrestling with Warren Bondo.

However, Giacomo Raspadori came off the bench and scored with his first touch, pouncing on the rebound after Di Gregorio had parried the Di Lorenzo angled drive. It gave this match five goals in the space of 13 minutes.