Napoli v Fiorentina Live Commentary & Result, 07/05/2023, Serie A

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	NAP Napoli	37	27	6	4	75	28	+47	87	D W L W D
2	LAZ Lazio	37	21	8	8	58	30	+28	71	W W D L W
3	INT Internazionale	37	22	3	12	70	42	+28	69	W L W W W
4	MIL Milan	37	19	10	8	61	42	+19	67	W W L W D
5	ATA Atalanta	37	18	7	12	61	46	+15	61	L W L L W
6	ROM Roma	37	17	9	11	48	37	+11	60	L D D L D
7	JUV Juventus	37	21	6	10	55	33	+22	59	L L W W W
8	TOR Torino	37	14	11	12	42	40	+2	53	W D W D W
9	FIO Fiorentina	37	14	11	12	50	42	+8	53	W D W L D
10	MON Monza	37	14	10	13	46	47	-1	52	L W W D D
11	BOL Bologna	37	13	12	12	50	47	+3	51	D W D D L
12	UDI Udinese	37	11	13	13	47	47	0	46	L L L W D
13	SAS Sassuolo	37	12	9	16	46	58	-12	45	D L L D L
14	EMP Empoli	37	10	13	14	37	47	-10	43	D W D W W
15	SAL Salernitana	37	9	15	13	48	60	-12	42	W D W L D
16	LEC Lecce	37	8	12	17	31	43	-12	36	W D D L L
17	SPE Spezia	37	6	13	18	30	60	-30	31	L D W L L
18	VER Hellas Verona	37	7	10	20	30	56	-26	31	D L L W L
19	CRE Cremonese	37	4	12	21	34	69	-35	24	L L L W D
20	SAM Sampdoria	37	3	10	24	24	69	-45	19	D L D L L

That is all for today - thanks for tuning in!

Next up, Napoli travel to face Monza in Serie A on Sunday, while Fiorentina host Basel in the Europa Conference League semi-final first-leg in midweek.

Osimhen's penalty is the difference as Napoli secure a 1-0 victory against Fiorentina in front of a jubilant home crowd. Having won Serie A earlier in the week, it was a slow start from Spalletti's side with Fiorentina controlling much of the action in the first half as Jovic saw a header well-saved by Gollini. However, the home side turned it around in the second half and could have been ahead when Lobotka was hauled down by Amrabat inside the box. Osimhen stepped up but was denied from the spot, but the mercurial forward would have a chance at redemption when Kvaratskhelia won another penalty in the 72nd minute. Osimhen would make no mistake this time with his goal securing a 1-0 win for Napoli and making him the highest-scoring African player in Serie A history in the process.

90' + 3' FULL-TIME: NAPOLI 1-0 FIORENTINA

90' + 2' Anguissa tries his luck again, but it goes wide once more from the edge of the box.

90' Anguissa lets fly from a tough angle but it flies out for a goal kick as we head into the first of three added minutes.

88' Kouame is played through by Jovic but it's a heavy touch from the substitute and Gollini is able to smother the attempt and win a goal kick.

86' Di Lorenzo gets forward well down the right but he's unable to win a corner and Fiorentina have a chance to attack again from the goal kick.

A. Zerbin

E. Elmas

84' Napoli make another change and this time it's Elmas who makes way with Zerbin replacing the North Macedonian.

82' Still, Fiorentina come forward and it's nervy stuff here from Napoli. Lobotka gives away the ball cheaply but the away side can't fashion a shooting opportunity.

80' WIDE!! Fiorentina with a golden opportunity to draw level but it's wasted. It's good combination play down the right and Venuti is set free. He picks out Gonzalez superbly in the box but the forward skews his effort wide from 12 yards out.

G. Simeone

V. Osimhen

78' The goalscorer makes way to rapturous applause from the home fans. Simeone is the man who replaces Osimhen.

77' The ball is given away to Kvaratskhelia but Terzic gets a crucial foot in and Terracciano is able to gather the loose ball.

C. Kouamé

S. Amrabat

76' Amrabat also comes off in central midfield with Kouame replacing him.

R. Saponara

R. Sottil

76' After that goal, Fiorentina make another double-change. Sottil is replaced by Saponara on the left wing.

V. Osimhen

Penalty Goal

74' GOOOOAAAALLLL!!!! NAPOLI LEAD!! 1-0!! Osimhen makes no mistake this time and Napoli are ahead! The striker steps up and slams it high and down the middle to give the home side the lead. With that goal, he becomes the highest-scoring African in the history of Serie A.

72' PENALTY!! Can they score this time? Kvaratskhelia has been quiet since coming on before the break but it's magical footwork from the Georgian winger as he dances inside the box. He draws the foul from Gonzalez and Osimhen has another chance after a brief VAR check for a foul in the build-up.

70' Ostigard does well with an excellent sliding challenge to prevent Jovic from turning home Venuti's cross, but it's pulled back for offside.

69' Amrabat whips in an inviting cross to the back post. Gonzalez gets up well at the back post but there is no one in the box to get on the end of his knock-down header.

68' Fiorentina continue to apply pressure, this time from a corner, but Napoli are able to clear it away.

R. Mandragora

A. Duncan

66' Duncan also comes off with Mandragora coming on in central midfield.

G. Castrovilli

G. Bonaventura

66' Fiorentina turn to their bench again as Bonaventura makes way for Castrovilli.

63' Osimhen with a superb dink over the goalkeeper which bounces onto the bar, but it wouldn't have counted as he's deemed to have fouled Milenkovic in the build-up.

61' CLOSE!! There's no attempt on goal but that's one of Napoli's better chances this half. Olivera gets into plenty of space down the left and he charges into the box. Osimhen is open if the full-back can find him but it's a poor cross and it flies past the Napoli forward with the goal gaping.

60' Fiorentina continue to probe but Napoli continue to offer a threat on the break. Anguissa tries to release Osimhen over the top on the break but the ball is overhit and Terracciano can sweep up.

58' Fiorentina have responded well since conceding that penalty and it looks like we're in for a more exiting second half.

55' Osimhen tries to recover the ball down the right but Milenkovic stands him up well and does a good job of winning a goal kick for his side.

53' Napoli concede a free-kick out on the right, but it's a poor cross from Terzic and Gollini can jump and claim that easily.

51' Amrabat, who conceded the penalty moments earlier, lets fly from long range but it's straight down Gollini's throat and a comfortable save from the Napoli keeper.

P. Terracciano

Penalty Save

48' Terracciano guessed correctly to keep Osimhen out.

V. Osimhen

Penalty Miss

48' MISSED!! Osimhen steps up with the chance to become the highest-scoring African in Serie A....but it's saved! It's a comfortable height and Terracciano guesses right, diving to his left and palming it away. Di Lorenzo tries to convert the rebound but the Fiorentina goalie gets up well to save that as well. Not to be for the home side.

48' PENALTY!! The other Napoli substitute is straight into the action as well and Lobotka wins a penalty. Fiorentina get it all wrong playing out from the back and Lobotka nips in ahead of Amrabat to steal the ball. The Moroccan hauls him down and the referee has no choice but to point to the spot.

47' Zielinksi wins an early free-kick having just been introduced but he lets himself down with a poorly overhit cross which sails out for goal kick.

46' With those changes complete, Napoli get this second half underway.

L. Venuti

Dodô

46' Fiorentina also make a change as Dodo comes off for Venuti.

P. Zieliński

G. Raspadori

46' Raspadori also comes off with Zielinski replacing him.

S. Lobotka

D. Demme

46' Napoli make a double-change at half-time. First off is Demme with Lobotka coming on in central midfield.

Napoli may already have the league wrapped up but one suspects that Spalletti will still want to see an improved performance in the second half. The home side had just one shot on target in the first 45 minutes and only saw 40 per cent of the ball. Fiorentina got into good positions but were often let down by a lack of quality with the final ball. They will be looking to make their chances count in the second half as they look to build momentum ahead of their crunch Europa Conference League semi-final fixture in midweek.

It remains goalless in Naples as we reach the break. It's been a party atmosphere in the stands, but certainly far from a classic on the pitch. Fiorentina have been the better side with Sottil and Terzic, in particular, combining well down the left flank with the latter's cross finding Jovic for the away side's best chance of the half, which was saved well by Gollini. Osimhen has fired wide on two occasions with his half-chances the best the home side have produced in a rather uneventful first half on the pitch.

45' + 1' HALF-TIME: NAPOLI 0-0 FIORENTINA

K. Kvaratskhelia

H. Lozano

45' Lozano is replaced and there is a roar from the crowd as Kvaratskhelia is the man introduced.

44' A small break in play as Lozano goes down off the ball clutching his knee. The physios come onto the pitch and it looks like they're signalling that he'll need to come off.

43' Anguissa gives away the ball cheaply in midfield, but he typifies what has made this Napoli side so successful this season as he hunts down the ball and wins a throw-in for his side. Napoli break up the pitch, but Osimhen can only find the side-netting with a tough chance from a tight angle.

40' Duncan delivers the corner to the back post where Milenkovic rises highest to meet it, but it's a difficult chance and goes well wide of the left post.

39' Terzic is afforded plenty of space down the left as Di Lorenzo is dragged out of position. Jovic makes a sharp run to the near post but Kim is aware and on hand to clear it out for a corner.

38' Napoli break from the Fiorentina free-kick and Lozanao stands up a cross into the box. Osimhen rises and is able to meet it but it's slightly behind the striker and it sails comfortably over the bar.

37' There is a slight pause in play as Sottil is down after a heavy challenge. He wins a free-kick, though, which Duncan delivers but again, Napoli hold firm to clear it away.

35' Dodo shows a great burst of pace to get down the right wing before standing a cross up into the box. Duncan looks to meet it but it's Kim who rises highest to clear the ball away.

34' Napoli seemed to have awoken after their slow start as they create their best chances of the game. Raspadori sees his shot on the edge of the box blocked before the onrushing Di Lorenzo attempts a volley, but fails to make good enough contact leaving Terracciano with a comfortable save.

32' Fiorentina continue to push forward in search of the game's opening goal. Ostigard, under pressure, calmly heads back to Gollini in goal as Dodo whips in a dangerous ball. Up the other end, Osimihen gets a rare sighting of goal but he slices well wide from a tight angle.

29' 46 per cent of Fiorentina's attacks have come down their left. Terzic and Sottil continue to link up well but they have been unable to produce the final ball for Jovic up front or Gonzalez coming in off the right.

27' Terzic gets to the byline once again down the Fiorentina left but his delivery is overhit and Jovic is unable to meet it.

25' Sottil has been a constant threat down the Fiorentina left so far this game as he fires in another low cross into the box. It's aiming for Bonaventura but it can't reach the midfielder and Napoli clear.

23' Halfway through this first half and Napoli have had just one shot in total. Fiorentina win another corner but it's a wasteful delivery and the home side can clear it away.

21' Terzic tangles with Lozano in the air and the Mexican forward wins a free-kick for his side.

19' The corner ball is whipped in by Fiorentina but Napoli clear it away.

18' Fiorentina have the first corner of the game after Ostigard's slip gifts Jovic the ball. His shot is smothered by Gollini before Sottil's shot is deflected behind.

16' Anguissa gets to the byline but his cross - looking for Raspadori - is cleared away by the Fiorentina defence.

15' SAVE!! Fiorentina continue to press forward and Gollini has to pull off a good diving stop to deny Jovic as his flicked header heads toward the far post.

14' Gonzalez looks to get a strike away on the edge of the box but the Napoli defence recover to block off the opportunity.

12' Fiorentina enjoying a good spell of possession in the Napoli half but nothing in the way of chances presenting themselves as of yet for the away side.

10' Napoli have scored an average of 2.3 goals per game in their last eight home games against Fiorentina in Serie A (won five, drawn one, lost two), while keeping four clean sheets in the period.

8' Napoli have a free-kick just inside the Fiorentina half but it's a poor delivery from Raspadori. Fiorentina look to break but Elmas works back well and it's a great sliding tackle to prevent a chance on goal.

7' Napoli respond with their first chance of the game as Elmas drifts off the left flank before dragging his shot wide of the post.

4' Both sides are settling into this encounter still as the home fans continue to sing non-stop from the stands. Terzic produces a good cross from the left, but there is too much pace on it and Jovic can't quite keep it down. An early warning from Fiorentina.

1' A positive start from Napoli as Osmihen surges down the right. Nobody is in the box to turn home his low cross but play is brought back as the striker was offside initially.

1' Fiorentina give Napoli a guard of honour as they come out of the tunnel. It's a jubilant atmosphere inside the stadium as the away side get this game underway.

Fiorentina are unbeaten in their last two Serie A matches against Napoli (drawn one, lost one) and could go three consecutive matches without losing against the Partenopei for the first time since 2011 (four - one win, three draws).

Italiano makes seven changes from the Fiorentina side that drew 3-3 wth Salernitana. Lucas Martinez Quarta and Biraghi are replaced by Milenkovic and Terzic in defence while Amrabat and Duncan start in central midfield instead of Castrovilli and Mandragora. Further forward, Ikone and Barak are replaced by Sottil and Bonaventura while Arthur Cabral misses out entirely, meaning Jovic leads the line.

Spalletti makes five changes from the Napoli side that drew 1-1 with Udinese. Gollini replaces Meret in goal while Ostigard comes in for Rrahmani in central defence. Lobotka, Ndombele, and Kvaratskhelia are also on the bench with Demme, Lozano and Raspadori coming into the side.

FIORENTINA SUBS: Cristiano Biraghi, Michele Cerofolini, Lorenzo Venuti, Alessandro Bianco, Rolando Mandragora, Tommaso Vannucchi, Gaetano Castrovilli, Jonathan Ikone, Luca Ranieri, Josip Brekalo, Antonin Barak, Riccardo Saponara, Christian Kouame.

FIORENTINA (4-3-2-1): Pietro Terracciano; Dodo, Nikola Milenkovic, Igor, Aleksa Terzic; Sofyan Amrabat, Alfred Duncan; Nicolas Gonzalez, Giacomo Bonaventura, Riccardo Sottil; Luka Jovic.

NAPOLI SUBS: Davide Marfella, Alex Meret, Bartosz Bereszynski, Matteo Politano, Juan Jesus, Alessio Zerbin, Amir Rrahmani, Stanislav Lobotka, Karim Zedadka, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Piotr Zielinski, Tanguy Ndombele, Giovanni Simeone, Gianluca Gaetano.

NAPOLI (4-3-3): Pierluigi Gollini; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Leo Ostigard, Kim Min-Jae, Mathias Olivera; Frank Anguissa, Diego Demme, Eljif Elmas; Hirving Lozano, Victor Osimhen, Giacomo Raspadori.

Fiorentina's league campaign may not technically be over but a poor recent run of form means that Vincenzo Italiano's side look unlikely to finish inside the top seven. With just one win in their last four league games, they now sit 12 points behind Roma with just five games to go. Hopes of European football next year may well lie in their ongoing Europa Conference League campaign and with a semi-final first leg against Basel on Thursday, Italiano may opt to rest several key players.

Fresh off winning their first Serie A title in 33 years away at Udinese, Napoli return to their home ground to celebrate in front of their fans. Luciano Spalletti's side will no doubt be treated to a rapturous home crowd, who erupted into frenzied celebrations that lasted well well into the night after their 1-1 draw on Thursday secured the Scudetto with five games to spare.

Hello and welcome to this live commentary for the Serie A fixture between Napoli and Fiorentina from the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

Napoli v Fiorentina Live Commentary, 07/05/2023

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