A remarkable save preserved the win for Napoli at Roma. It might yet prove a turning point for a side that had lost three games in fourWe’ll get to Dries Mertens and his two goals. We’ll get to the bit where he dropped on to all fours and cocked his leg towards the corner flag like a dog preparing to empty its bladder, as well. We’ll get to talking about 21-year-old Marko Rog, too, and his star turn in midfield. We’ll get to discussing how Maurizio Sarri nailed his team selection, while Luciano Spalletti’s gamble backfired.To tell the story of Napoli’s triumph over Roma in the Derby del Sole, however, it makes sense to start at the end. Because the...
The Bernabéu tie this week has rekindled memories of the occasion when one of Real Madrid’s finest sides met a Napoli inspired by Diego MaradonaThe teams are in and Diego Maradona will be leading Napoli in Madrid. He touched down at Barajas airport on Monday and took refuge in his hotel – the same hotel Real Madrid use when they are brought together the night before home games – from where he will head to the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday night, invited by the Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis. Thousands of Neapolitans will be there too, high in the north stand. The ones who get tickets, anyway. The sports newspaper AS said on its front-page: “10,000, plus Maradona”. Marca warned...
Diego Maradona returned to Naples last week and admits he was wrong to write off the Partenopei’s chances of toppling the leaders at the top of Serie ADiego Maradona was back in Naples last week, swapping his old stomping ground at the Stadio San Paolo for an audience instead at the Teatro di San Carlo opera house. Tickets were priced at a whopping €300, but of course they still sold out. On stage, Maradona acknowledged complaints about the cost, but explained: “they told me Pelé had a similar event, and set his tickets at €200. That guy always has to come second.”It was precisely this showmanship that caused the city to fall so head-over-heels for Maradona in the first place:...
Real Madrid ought to have too much for Napoli, but there are tough challenges ahead for Arsenal, Leicester and Paris Saint-Germain Related: Champions League final: Ronaldo ‘had feeling’ he would score winner Related: Arsenal better set for deep run in Champions League, says Arsène Wenger Related: Juventus 1-3 Barcelona | Champions League final match report Continue reading...