Lackluster Napoli deservedly defeated in Udine, losing top spot

Napoli returned to darkness. Following the Champions League loss to Benfica, their fourth Serie A defeat arrived at Bluenergy Stadium. Udinese ultimately won deservedly, decided by Ekkelenkamp’s spectacular 73rd-minute stunner. The Dutchman curled a magnificent right-footed shot into the top corner, eerily replicating his heroics at the Maradona. He struck perfectly from range, finding the far post to effectively sink the Azzurri.

The goalkeeper Milinkovic-Savic performed poorly, but was saved twice by the VAR: first disallowing Davis’s tap-in after an error for offside, then canceling Zaniolo’s goal, which slipped through the Serbian’s hands, due to an attacking foul. This 1-0 result troubles Conte, who missed the chance to surpass Milan after their draw against Sassuolo. Napoli created little, disappointingly, only regretting a massive late opportunity where Hojlund failed clamorously from just two steps away. Napoli dropped third with thirty-one points, while Udinese now climbs to tenth place with twenty-one points.