Politano inspires second-half turnaround as Napoli win 4-1 at Monza

The vice-captain scored one and set up another in a quarter of an hour and the substitutes finished the job. At the other end, a side that had 35% of the ball still managed 12 shots.

by Gennaro SanninoThursday 29 October, 02:09 CET· 8 hours ago

Politano con la maglia del SSC Napoli — Foto: football-italia.net

The game at Monza turned on three minutes, and they were not in the first half. Höjlund had put Napoli ahead, and on 43 minutes Varela equalised from a Robinson assist. That is the pattern the fanbase has been holding against Allegri lately: an early lead, then a side that manages the game instead of finishing it off.

This time the response came straight away. In the 48th minute, three minutes into the second half, Politano put Napoli back in front. That is the first thing to take from the night. The equaliser came just before the break, at the worst possible moment, and the team did not let it get to them. They came back out and struck at once.

Politano decides it twice

The second thing has Politano's name on it. After making it 2-1, he set up Marín for 3-1 on 62 minutes. Within a quarter of an hour the vice-captain had decided the game twice, first as a forward and then as the provider. Napoli scored three times after the break and he had a hand in two of them.

That matters. In the spell when Monza could still believe, the man asked to give the side depth down the right did exactly that.

The bench makes a difference

The third thing is the substitutions. De Bruyne and Vergara came on in the 63rd minute. Four minutes later De Bruyne put the game away at 4-1, from a Lang assist. Gilmour had come on very early, in the 17th minute, and Marianucci was sent on at half-time.

Allegri made changes during the game and they had a real effect on the result, which has not always been the case this season. With 65% of possession and 16 shots, seven on target, Napoli were in control. For once they also found a way to turn that control into goals.

The defence is still the problem

What did not work was at the other end, and on this point the fans have the strongest case. Monza had the ball for only 35% of the game, yet they had 12 shots, five on target, and the Napoli goalkeeper had to make four saves. A team dominating like that should not give the opposition so much.

Varela's goal was not a one-off. Napoli have conceded 11 goals in nine league games, and a defence that allows too much remains the weak spot, even on a night when the team scored four.

The win makes it three games unbeaten and leaves Napoli sixth on 14 points, with the leaders on 25. Next up is Juventus away at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday 1 November, and Neres is still out.

Napoli leave Monza with a brave second half and an attack that scored from several sources. They also leave with a question the win did not settle. If an opponent can take 12 shots in 90 minutes, can a defence like the one seen at Monza hold up?