Napoli: Derby del Sole
Napoli hosted Roma this afternoon in the Derby del Sole- always a high-voltage match at the San Paolo. Rome were without Phillipe Mexes and Simone Perrotta due to suspension and Taddei, Julio Sergio, Okaka, and Adriano due to injury. Napoli were missing only Cristiano Lucarelli, who remains on the injury list and is not expected back anytime soon. The first half ended scoreless, despite opportunities for both teams, and possession fairly even. In the second half, Marek Hamsik scored what a gleeful announcer tells me is his fourth goal in six games against Roma, and Hugo Campagnaro's ball took an unfortunate deflection off Roma's Juan to give Napoli another ten minutes later. The score remained at 2-0 at full time as Napoli beat Roma at the San Paolo for the first time since 1997.
Napoli 2 - 0 Roma
Goalscorers: Hamsik 72, Campagnaro Juan OG 83
Napoli De Sanctis; Campagnaro (Sosa 92), Cannavaro, Aronica; Maggio, Pazienza, Gargano (Yebda 71), Dossena (Zuniga 80); Hamsik, Lavezzi; Cavani.
Roma Lobont; Cassetti, Burdisso, Juan, Riise; De Rossi, Pizarro, Cicinho (Rosi 73), Menez (Brighi 46); Totti, Borriello (Vucinic 67).
Ref Tagliavento
Match Stats
Pagalle
Or if you prefer it in italiano...
Roma games mean a packed stadium.
The two misters shake hands before things kick off.
Ten Euro Totti behaves himself the whole game? You're on!
Let the funny face competition begin!
Um, I think that's the wrong sport, lads. That kind of tackle is American football...
Someone believes he can fly...
Hamsik had a lovely goal to make it 1-0.
And there was great rejoicing...
Which led to...whatever this is. I'm not sure if it's a manpile or a tickle fight.
Oh, yes, Lavezzi ended up bloodied a bit after a collision. (He's fine.)
Sometimes Hamsik scares me a little...
Totti almost made it the whole game without a card. Almost.
Whatever it was, Totti really didn't mean it, ref, honest.
We need to work on our manpiling skills...
Ok, that's a little better, lads.
I want to give Cavani a hug. He always looks like it's the Best Day Ever when we win.
Lavezzi and his body art had a good day.
Still no vote of confidence...doing good, Mister!
Napoli's next match (after the international break) will be at Catania on the 17th.