Napoli held at death by Cagliari

The away team played well and were briefly leading when Brescianini rifled in a brilliant finish in the 27th minute, only for Vlahovic to level with his second of the day five minutes later. "The late goal is a huge shame, things are not going our way and it's a real source of regret," said Di Francesco to 'Sky'.

"Every match there is regret about the result. It's a huge disappointment." Victor Osimhen's second goal in a matter of days wasn't enough to reignite Napoli's hopes of European football as Zito Luvumbo struck in the 96th minute to snatch a draw for Cagliari.

Nigeria forward Osimhen looked to have given Francesco Calzona a win in his first league match in charge of the ailing Italian champions when he nodded home Giacomo Raspadori's cross in the 66th minute. Instead Napoli stay ninth, four points behind Roma who are in the Europa Conference League spot ahead of the capital club's match with Torino on Monday, and 11 behind fourth-placed Bologna.

Osimhen, who netted Napoli's goal in their 1-1 Champions League draw with Barcelona on Wednesday, also hit the post as he impresses on his return from the Africa Cup of Nations as a losing finalist. "We had chances at the end to close out the match and we didn't take them. But at least we were organised," said Calzona to 'DAZN'.

"The problem is mental. There's nothing wrong with the team physically, we saw that on Wednesday and it was the same today... It's going to take time because you can't solve these problems from one day to the next."

Cagliari would have lept out of the drop zone with a win, but although Claudio Ranieri's team remain second-from-bottom they are level on 20 points with 17th-placed Sassuolo who host Napoli on Wednesday.

 

February 25, 2024