Venezia secured a stunning 1-0 victory over Napoli in Serie A on Saturday, marking a dream debut for new coach Davide Nicola. The crucial goal came from Akor Adams, while goalkeeper Filip Stankovic emerged as a hero, saving a penalty from Kevin De Bruyne to deny Napoli an equaliser.
The result is a significant upset, as Venezia had previously lost all seven of their games this season across Serie A and the Coppa Italia. The club had sacked former coach Giovanni Stroppa after six consecutive defeats, making Nicola’s immediate impact all the more remarkable.
Adams Strikes, Stankovic Shines
The decisive moment arrived when Akor Adams capitalised on a long ball from Simon Sohm. Adams used his strength to shrug off Napoli defender Amir Rrahmani, cut inside, and fired a shot that deflected off the defender, wrong-footing goalkeeper Alex Meret to give Venezia the lead.
Napoli pushed for an equaliser, and their best chance came from the penalty spot after Matias Moreno committed a clumsy tackle on Rasmus Hojlund. Kevin De Bruyne stepped up, but his weak effort was smothered by Filip Stankovic, who correctly guessed the direction and made a crucial save. Stankovic continued to be a formidable presence, making a series of saves throughout the match, including a flying stop from a Stanislav Lobotka curler and denying Alisson Santos on multiple occasions.
Napoli’s Woes Continue
For Napoli, the defeat adds to a challenging period. The Partenopei were still reeling from a 3-1 Champions League loss away to Villarreal. Despite resting key players like Kevin De Bruyne and Rasmus Hojlund initially, their introduction could not turn the tide. Napoli’s injury concerns also saw David Neres, Antonio Vergara, Costantino Favasuli, and Alessandro Buongiorno sidelined, with others only fit for the bench.
The loss leaves Napoli searching for form, while Venezia’s unexpected win provides a much-needed boost and a fresh start under their new manager.
Serie A Action Across Italy
The Venezia-Napoli clash was one of three Serie A fixtures scheduled for October 17. Elsewhere, Inter Milan travelled to Bologna, aiming to recover from their own shock Champions League defeat. Meanwhile, Roma hosted Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico, with coach Daniele De Rossi facing his former club as Roma looked to bounce back from a 4-3 loss to Real Madrid.