Replays back Oliver as Porto's 4-1 win over Napoli leaves no excuses

Højlund's equaliser was offside and Rafa Marín's late red card was correct. Napoli's problem at the Dragão was the four goals they conceded, two of them from corners.

by Gennaro SanninoWednesday 4 November, 23:35 CET· 1 hour ago

Porto-Napoli, la moviola toglie l'ultimo alibi: il gol di Højlund era in fuorigioco, il rosso a Rafa Marín è giusto — Grafica Arena Napoli

Michael Oliver got every big call right in Porto-Napoli. Højlund's disallowed equaliser was offside, if only just. The penalty and the red card for Rafa Marín in the 89th minute were clear. Porto deserved their 4-1 win, and it is worth saying straight away: there is no referee to blame.

The first warning came after three minutes. Porto had a goal ruled out because Pepê, played in behind Vergara, had started from an offside position. Napoli did not heed it. In the 11th minute Bednarek headed in from a corner.

Between the 37th and 38th minutes Napoli broke well. Politano got away quickly and crossed into the box, where Højlund scored with a sliding finish. The assistant raised his flag: when the ball was played, the Dane was beyond Porto's last defender. The equaliser that counted came in the 43rd minute, when Diogo Costa saved from Højlund and McTominay put away the rebound.

The last big moment came in the 89th minute, with the game already settled at 3-1. Porto broke, Gimenez sent Samu clear through on Meret, and Rafa Marín brought him down in the area. Oliver gave the penalty and showed the Spaniard a straight red without hesitating. The former referee Gianpaolo Calvarese had no doubts either.

"No doubt about the penalty. Rafa Marin holds him back and it is not a genuine attempt. That is why it is a red card."

The spot-kick made it 4-1.

The problem was in our box, not in the referee's notebook

Four goals conceded, two from corners. The back line was new: Beukema, Rrahmani and Rafa Marín started together for the first time, with no recognised full-back on either flank. That comes from an injury crisis that has lasted for weeks, with 17 players affected.

The crisis explains who plays. It does not explain conceding twice from set pieces. Corners are worked on during the week and do not depend on who is in the treatment room. Defending set pieces is the coach's responsibility.

There is a less comfortable point too. After a defeat like this, replays that clear the referee hurt more than replays that condemn him. They take away the last excuse and leave only the team to look at.

In the Champions League Napoli have 3 points from four games: one win and three defeats. For anyone who still feels Napoli are being judged harshly in Europe, nobody took those points away. Napoli lost them. The Dragão (Porto's stadium) also brought a second collapse after the break, following the 2-0 in Turin.

Next up is Lazio, top of the table, at the Maradona on Sunday 8 November at 12:30 CET (11:30 UK, 06:30 ET). Napoli will have 11 players definitely unavailable, and Allegri returns to the bench for league games after his two-match ban. Against the leaders there will be no linesman to argue with.

Napoli will have to defend better, starting with corners.