Napoli secured a 1-1 draw against Roma, with Mourinhoโs men potentially splashing cold water on the Luciano Spallettiโs title ambition.
Napoli began their proceedings with a bang, drawing the first blood in the 11th minute of the first half. Roger Ibaรฑezโs tackle on Hirving Lozano was ruled as a foul by VAR after the initial denial of a penalty shout from the on-field referee. Lorenzo Insigne put the ball past Rui Patrรญcio to give the hosts a deserving lead.
The first half of the game was the summing-up of Nicolo Zanioloโs darts against the Napoli defence and the same kinds of runs from Lozano against Romaโs stronghold. However, the second half became a much more physical affair.
Roma saw a couple of scoreable chances wasted by the likes of Tammy Abraham and Gianluca Mancini. Napoli also flared a few flashes on the attacking front themselves. But Stephan El Shaarawy had the last say on the result as he scored the equaliser after coming off the bench in the second half.
The draw may have ended Napoliโs race for this seasonโs Scudetto, with the Naples-based side now accumulating 69 points from 33 games. On the other hand, Roma remains at the fifth position with 58 points from 33 games. As things stand, Mourinhoโs men are five points behind Juventus.
Napoli have taken another dent in their Scudetto race with the draw against Roma. They are now four points away from the top, with Fiorentina only two points behind Roma and have a game in hand.
โ Get Italian Football News (@_GIFN) April 18, 2022
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Napoli (4-3-3): Meret (6), Zanoli (6), Rrahmani (7.5), Koulibaly (8.5), Mรกrio Rui (6.5), Anguissa (6.5), Lobotka (5.5), Fabiรกn Ruiz (6), Lozano (8), Insigne (6.5), Osimhen (6)
Subs: Elmas (6), Demme (5.5), Zielinski (6), Juan Jesus (N/A), Dries Mertens (N/A)
Roma (3-4-2-1): Rui Patrรญcio (6.5), Karsdorp (7), Mancini (6), Smalling (8), Ibaรฑez (4.5), Cristante (5.5), Sรฉrgio Oliveira (6), Zalewski (6.5), Pellegrini (7), Zaniolo (7.5), Abraham (5.5)
Subs:ย Mkhitaryan (6.5), El Shaarawy (7.5), Veretout (6), Felix Afena-Gyan (N/A), Carles Perez (N/A)
