Final score

30 November 2015 21:00

Napoli
17' (2nd half) Higuain
2' Higuain
2 - 1
Inter
22' (2nd half) Ljajic
Referee: Daniele Orsato / Linesmen: Manganelli, Meli / Fourth official: Di Liberatore / Assistants: Mazzoleni, Celi
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
47' The first half comes to an end with Napoli a goal and a man up
45' Two minutes of added time to be played
45' Inter protest but Orsato pulls out the red card for the Japanese full-back. Nerazzurri down to ten men
45' Nagatomo slides in on Allan and earns himself a second booking
40' Ljajic tees up Perisic but the Croat's effort goes wide of Reina's upright
39' Higuain tries to unleash a shot from the edge of the box, it's charged down by Murillo
36' Hysaj is shown a yellow card for handball
35' Nagatomo has his name taken following a foul on Callejon
33' D'Ambrosio stands it up for Icardi in the box but his header lacks pace
29' Guarins finds space for the shot outside the box: it skims the bar
26' Callejon's delivery deflects off Nagatomo and goes behind for a corner
18' Perisic swings in a cross from the right, Reina is out to claim
17' Inter string together a flurry of passes before Ljajic feeds Perisic on the right. He cuts inside onto his left and shoots but it's wayward
16' Hamsik's cross-shot is handled by Handanovic
11' Koulibaly is booked for a nasty late challenge on Guarin
10' Insigne lays off for Hamsik but the Slovak's first-time effort flies way over the bar
5' Perisic is played in by Guarin down the right, his touch is heavy and he sends the ball out of play
2' A fortunate deflection in the box sees the ball bounce into Higuain's path and he lashes home to put the hosts in front
1' Inter take the kick-off and we're off!
1' Here we are at the San Paolo and the stadium is packed to the rafters for tonight's Serie A clash between Napoli and Inter
Minute Text commentary
49' After an incredible finale it ends 2-1 to Napoli. Higuain's double decides it
49' WOODWORK AGAIN! Reina gets just enough of a touch on Miranda's header to divert it onto the post. Inter so unlucky not to be level
49' SO CLOSE! Jovetic powers a header against the foot of the post deep into injury time!
46' Ljajic's hopeful cross goes straight into Reina's arms
45' Four minutes of stoppage time
44' Higuain scampers clear on the counter and aims for the far post. Handanovic fingertips it behind for a corner
42' Last change for Napoli as Sarri looks to shore things up: Maggio replaces Callejon
42' Inter looking dangerous again, Biabiany whips in a low ball, Reina is out to get the vital touch
40' Ljajic takes the free kick, the Partenopei repel it, Brozovic has a go from the edge of the box but fails to get it on target
39' Ljajic is felled by Callejon on the edge of the box and the Napoli man goes into the book
38' Mancini throws on Jovetic for Perisic
36' Inter still probing: Ljajic's pullback from the byline is cleared by the Napoli defence
35' Sarri brings on David Lopez for Hamsik
33' Superb run by Brozovic, who shakes off the attentions of two opponents before whistling his shot wide fractionally wide
32' Medel plays Ljajic in behind but the linesman's flag is up
28' Ghoulam curls a probing ball into the danger zone for Higuain. Murillo beats the Argentine to it with a brilliant piece of defensive play
25' Change for Napoli: Insigne goes off and El Kaddouri comes on
22' GOOOAAAL FOR INTER! Neat work from Adem Ljajic and a tasty finish inside the near post to reduce the arrears. 2-1
17' Higuain races away behind the Nerazzurri backline and tucks his finish inside the far post. 2-0 to Napoli
16' Mancini makes another switch as Biabiany comes on for Guarin
15' Callejon picks out Hamsik's head with a raking pass from the right, Handanovic saves at the near post
13' Inter are pushing forward with ten men. Perisic attempts to ping in a cross that gets turned behind for a corner
12' Ghoulam's delivery is met in the air by Higuain but he sends it wide
6' Things get a bit heated between Guarin and Allan and they're both booked as a result
1' Mancini has set Inter up in a 4-4-1 formation with Ljajic leading the line
1' The second half begins with a substitution for Mancini: Telles replaces Icardi
Biabiany
6.64
6.64
Nagatomo
3.77
3.77
Guarin
4.44
4.44
Handanovic
6.33
6.33
Icardi
3.88
3.88
D'Ambrosio
5.47
5.47
Medel
6.15
6.15
Brozovic
7.13
7.13
Miranda
6.47
6.47
Murillo
5.66
5.66
Jovetic
6.74
6.74
Perisic
6.22
6.22
Ljajic
8.44
8.44
Telles
6.65
6.65
Average rating 6
4 shots on target 2
8 shots off target 9
8 fouls committed 7
5 corners 5
3 offsides 4
62% ball possession 38%
wins(20) draws(22) defeats(39)

NAPLES - Inter were narrowly beaten by Napoli at the San Paolo after a resilient display with ten men which saw them twice denied an equaliser in injury time.

Gonzalo Higuain fired the hosts ahead inside the first two minutes then doubled their advantage on the hour mark, but Adem Ljajic pulled one back for Inter in the 67th minute. Stevan Jovetic and Joao Miranda both had headers come back off the post in a frantic finale.

The Nerazzurri got off to the worst possible start. The game wasn't even 120 seconds old when Jeison Murillo's attempted clearance spun into the path of Jose Callejon. The Spaniard somehow squeezed it through to Higuain, whose finish was lethal.

Inter attempted to muster a response as Ljajic linked up well with Marcelo Brozovic and laid off to Ivan Perisic, but the Croat could manage no more than a wayward effort from out wide.

Napoli were trying to slow the pace in midfield while looking to their front three for inspiration but chances were at a premium.

Inter did get their noses forward on the half-hour mark when Mauro Icardi got on the end of Perisic's cross, only for the Azzurri defence to repel the shot. Fredy Guarin then lifted the follow-up chance over the bar from the edge of the box.

On 39 minutes Marek Hamsik teed up Higuain for another dig but Murillo was well placed to make the block. Down the other end Ljajic did well to find Perisic, but the former Wolfsburg man couldn't find the target.

Just before half time Yuto Nagatomo was shown his second of the match and Inter found themselves down to ten men.

Roberto Mancini restored some balance to the side during the interval by bringing on Alex Telles, with Icardi the man sacrificed and Ljajic taking up the lone striker role.

No sooner had the whistle sounded for the start of the second half than the Serbian skipped away down the left flank and picked out Brozovic on the edge of the box: sadly, the midfielder's finish lacked power. An unmarked Hamsik then headed into Samir Handanovic's arms from a tight angle.

Mancini looked to inject some pace by replacing Guarin with Jonathan Biabiany but a minute later Napoli doubled their lead. Raul Albiol played the ball over the top for Higuain to run onto, the Argentine managed to hold off Miranda and Murillo and fire past Handanovic.

Inter refused to roll over though and they reduced the arrears in the 67th minute through Ljajic. The Serbian showed neat control on the edge of the box before unleashing a low finish inside Pepe Reina's near post.

Nerazzurri knew the comeback was on but Napoli were still carving out chances and Murillo was alert to nip in ahead of Higuain and cut out Faouzi Ghoulam's cross for Higuain.

Inter pressed forward and Napoli backed off. Brozovic ran most of the pitch fending off the interest of Jorginho but his attempt finished wide.

Two minutes later Ljajic exchanged passes with Perisic before scuttling down to the byline only to pull his cross back too far behind his team-mates.

Mancini played his final card and threw on Jovetic for Perisic, while Maurizio Sarri tightened things up at the back with Christian Maggio replacing Callejon.

Shortly afterwards, Biabiany whipped a low cross into the danger zone looking for Ljajic: Reina rushed out and got there a fraction before him.

Higuain was on a mission to score his hattrick and he burst past three black and blue shirts before angling his finish across Handanovic, the Slovene getting the crucial touch to turn it around the post.

That heralded a quite incredible final few minutes. Danilo D'Ambrosio's pumped delivery into the box was met majestically in the air by Jovetic, but the Montenegrin's powerful header cannoned off the foot of the post. Then, with the seconds ticking down, Biabiany hooked another cross into the mixer and Miranda nodded goalwards with Reina somehow launching launch himself across goal and tipping the ball onto the post to keep the score intact.

Napoli 2-1 Inter (HT 1-0)
Scorers: Higuain 2, 63, Ljajic 67.

Napoli: 25 Reina; 2 Hysaj, 33 Albiol, 26 Koulibaly, 31 Ghoulam; 5 Allan, 8 Jorginho, 17 Hamsik (19 David Lopez 80); 7 Callejon (11 Maggio 87), 9 Higuain, 24 Insigne (77 El Kaddouri 69).
Subs not used: 1 Rafael, 22 Gabriel, 3 Strinic, 4 Henrique, 11 Maggio, 16 Valdifiori, 20 Dezi, 21 Chiriches, 77 El Kaddouri, 94 Chalobah, 96 Luperto.
Coach: Maurizio Sarri.

Inter: 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio, 25 Miranda, 24 Murillo, 55 Nagatomo; 13 Guarin (11 Biabiany 61), 17 Medel, 77 Brozovic; 22 Ljajic, 9 Icardi (12 Telles 46), 44 Perisic (10 Jovetic 83).
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 5 Jesus, 6 Dodò, 8 Palacio, 10 Jovetic, 11 Biabiany, 12 Telles, 14 Montoya, 23 Ranocchia, 27 Gnoukouri, 83 Melo, 97 Manaj.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.

Booked: Koulibaly 11, Nagatomo 34, Hysaj 35, Guarin 56, Allan 56, Callejon 84.
Sent off: Nagatomo 44.
Added time: 2+4 minutes.
Referee: Orsato.
Assistants: Manganelli, Meli.
Fourth official: Di Liberatore.
Additional assistants: Mazzoleni, Celi.

 

starting lineups

Reina 25 1 Handanovic
Hysaj 2 33 D'Ambrosio
Albiol 33 25 Miranda
Koulibaly 26 24 Murillo
Ghoulam 31 55 Nagatomo
Allan 5 13 Guarin
Jorginho 8 17 Medel
Hamsik 17 77 Brozovic
Callejon 7 22 Ljajic
Higuain 9 9 Icardi
Insigne 24 44 Perisic

substitutes

Rafael 1 30 Carrizo
Gabriel 22 5 Jesus
Strinic 3 6 Dodò
Henrique 4 8 Palacio
Valdifiori 6 10 Jovetic
Maggio 11 11 Biabiany
David Lopez 19 12 Telles
Dezi 20 14 Montoya
Chiriches 21 23 Ranocchia
El Kaddouri 77 27 Gnoukouri
Chalobah 94 83 Melo
Luperto 96 97 Manaj