Fiorentina's Struggles Continue with 3-0 Loss to Napoli in Serie A

Napoli dominates Fiorentina 3-0 in Serie A, with David Neres, Romelu Lukaku, and Scott McTominay all finding the back of the net.

Napoli delivered a commanding performance to overpower Fiorentina, with goals from David Neres, Romelu Lukaku, and Scott McTominay propelling them to the top of the Serie A table. The Partenopei seized the opportunity to establish a solo lead, as their closest rivals, Atalanta and Inter, are currently participating in the Supercoppa Italiana in Saudi Arabia.

Despite being without key players Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Matteo Politano, and Alessandro Buongiorno due to injury, Napoli's depth and resilience were on full display. Meanwhile, Fiorentina had been struggling to regain momentum after consecutive defeats, but they had shown signs of improvement with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Juventus in their previous outing.

Fiorentina's preparations for the match were hampered by the absence of key players, with Danilo Cataldi not fully fit and Lucas Martinez Quarta and Cristiano Biraghi omitted from the squad due to impending transfers. In response, manager Raffaele Palladino opted for a tactical switch, deploying a three-man defence in an attempt to counter Napoli's attacking prowess.

Mathias Olivera thought he had given Napoli the lead in the 15th minute, but his goal was disallowed due to offside. The Napoli defender had received a clever give-and-go pass from Romelu Lukaku inside the penalty area, only to be denied by the linesman's flag.

Napoli continued to press Fiorentina, with Leonardo Spinazzola, who had been deployed in the trident attack, testing David De Gea with a powerful strike. The Manchester United goalkeeper was equal to the task, parrying the ball to safety. Napoli's relentless pressure had Fiorentina on the back foot, and it seemed only a matter of time before they would break the deadlock.

The breakthrough finally came when David Neres embarked on a mazy run from midfield, combining with Lukaku to shrug off the challenges of Fabiano Parisi and Luca Ranieri. Neres then unleashed a stunning shot from a tight angle, firing into the roof of the net with his weaker right foot. The goal was a testament to Neres' skill and composure in front of goal.

Fiorentina thought they had equalized in the 35th minute, but their goal was controversially disallowed for handball. Moise Kean had controlled a cross from Riccardo Sottil with his chest, but the ball may have bounced onto his wrist before he fired it into the net from 10 yards out. Although the VAR footage was not conclusive, the referee's original decision had to stand, leaving Fiorentina frustrated and aggrieved.

Following the restart, Matias Moreno's attempt to prevent a corner at the by-line ended in chaos, as he was dispossessed by Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa and subsequently brought down the midfielder, conceding a penalty in the process. Romelu Lukaku then showcased his composure from the spot, adopting a stuttering run-up before calmly rolling the ball past David De Gea, who had committed to the opposite side.

Despite trailing, Fiorentina continued to push forward in search of a goal, but their efforts were thwarted by a combination of Alex Meret's goalkeeping and defensive interventions. Rolando Mandragora's volley was initially saved by Meret, and Amir Rrahmani then blocked Lucas Beltran's follow-up attempt. Beltran's header eventually skimmed the upright, denying Fiorentina a crucial goal.

Fiorentina's persistence was ultimately punished by two costly errors. Dodo's slip allowed Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa to sprint down the left wing, and although Pietro Comuzzo intercepted Anguissa's cross, he inadvertently laid the ball off perfectly for Scott McTominay to drill home from 12 yards. McTominay's goal sealed the win for Napoli, leaving Fiorentina to rue their mistakes.

Riccardo Sottil's curler, which flashed inches past the far post, was the last genuine scoring opportunity for Fiorentina. Ultimately, the match ended in a 3-0 defeat for the hosts, who have now managed just one point from their last four Serie A outings. Meanwhile, Napoli's victory was slightly marred by concerns over Mathias Olivera's fitness, as the defender limped off with a calf issue, although it was unclear whether the problem was due to cramp or a more serious injury.