Rome-Naples, CM’s report cards: Cristante lucid, Mkhitaryan disappoints. Muro Koulibaly, Osimhen in the shade | A league
Rome-Naples 0-0
ROME
Rui Patrick 6: Unsure about an exit in the first half. Fortunately, Mancini is helping him. For the rest he is very little engaged by Napoli for a good hour before the great scare on Mancini’s back pass.
Karsdorp 6.5: It starts like a train, then as the minutes go by it pulls the brakes also because Insigne doesn’t just stand by and watch on that side. In the second half the script does not change between will and some error.
Mancini 6.5: Mura Obscuring an error in Rui Patricio’s output. A huge intervention that is almost worth a goal. In the second half the first, usually quarter of an hour, suffers. Then he makes the South gasp twice: when he touches the head goal and when he almost commits a sensational own goal with Rui Patricio.
Ibanez 6.5: He resets the whole system, cancels Bodo’s bug and starts bullying on Osimhen and Politano, screaming at the two of them all his desire for revenge. Well in the advances, careful on the entries. Less well in definition.
Vina 6: Don’t breathe and pedal, a lot. He obviously has technical limitations but he never relaxes his jaw and in the second half he tries pure a distant male in the push phase. And this Mourinho can only like.
Veretout 6: On the first pressing he is always present, demonstrating that he has overcome the post-penalty trauma with Juve. Let’s say they can greatly offensive his insertions.
Cristante 7: He bites and recovers balls, even the one that ends up almost behind Ospina after half an hour. Lucid performance, of intelligence and charisma like not seen in a while.
Zaniolo 6.5Mario Rui and half Naples but he takes a look at the tank and knows he can’t push like that for ninety minutes. Scale, perhaps too much. In the restart he starts the engine again.
Pilgrims 6.5: Two flashes at first that turns out to be more stingy in intuitions also because some companions do not seem to be on his wavelength. In the second half Anguissa tries to make him pass the desire but Lorenzo does not give up and in the 65th minute he touches the goal in a split before two other occasions in which he does not prove very lucid.
Mkhitaryan 5: What little good that does in the retreat phase is wasting when there is to restart the action if you exclude the good insertion at the end of the first half. Disappointing beyond all limits at the start of the season. (21’st El Shaarawy 6: more pepper)
Abraham 6: It takes a while to understand the rhythm of the evening by misinterpreting the excellent suggestions of Zaniolo and Pellegrini. When he finally gets the move right, he devours the possible advantage face to face with Ospina. In the second half, however, he puts it all to a result. He can’t. (86 ‘Shomurodov sv: serve greater cynicism)
Mourinho 6.5: The eleven who take the field give their all and show a difference in technique and intent with the repudiated squad. The defensive phase has improved a lot. But the understanding that had been glimpsed in the first races, especially in the offensive department, is in vain. His Rome somehow reacted and stopped the always victorious leaders, but the sharpness is missing.
NAPLES
Ospina 6.5: does not miss an intervention, punctual in the parades and in the exits. It is now a security there between the posts.
By Lorenzo 6: The push is not the usual but he is careful back there. At the end suffer the freshness of El Shaarawy.
Rrahmani 6.5: Abraham has important athletic skills and it is not easy to keep up with him. He succeeds, anticipates it and is good with timely closings.
Koulibaly 7: usually giant, in one on one he is never surpassed. Napoli cannot do without its defensive leader.
Mario Rui 6: in the first half he is more blocked because Zaniolo pushes well and has an important step. He struggles a little but in the second half he grows a lot in both phases.
Anguissa 6: as usual it is precious in physical play, of interdiction. A little less when it comes to making the last choice on the opponent’s trocar.
Fabian Ruiz 6.5: Roma puts intensity into it and he doesn’t have an easy life, he has to play the ball quickly but he manages to get the team around.
Zielinski 5: he wants to do, he moves but gets lost when he has the ball at his feet, his strong point is support. Too many technical errors that give away several times to the restarts of Rome (26 ‘st Elmas 6: positive entry, he moves well between midfield and attack but with Roma very closed it is difficult to find spaces).
Politano 6: Vina has some difficulties with her left-handed return. Very valuable in the defensive fallback (26 ‘st Lozano 6: enters to give a different solution, with his extensions in depth and keeps the Giallorossi backward department apprehensive).
Osimhen 5.5: difficult evening, Mancini and Ibanez attack him without breathing. His comrades serve him little and he doesn’t get into the action so much.
teaches 6: difficult start, he is forced to concentrate more to play the ball with greater continuity. He succeeds and inspires the actions of Napoli, he is also close to scoring in the first half (36 ‘st Mertens sv).
Shoulder pads 6: the return to the Olimpico can only have a special flavor for him. Amidst the whistles and offenses, he responds with a greeting. Complicated evening, Roma plays with intensity and knows how to close spaces in time. The winning streak of his Napoli stops and now the first place must be shared with Milan.