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Serie A Liveblog: Empoli-Napoli and Verona-Udinese

Byfbadmin

Apr 20, 2024 19:32

Football Italia Live Blog
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21:40 That is all for the Liveblog

Check the main site for more post-match coverage and we’ll see you tomorrow.

21:39 Match report

 

21:37 FT: Verona 1-0 Udinese

These teams had the same points going in, so that is a huge victory to keep Verona clear of the drop zone.

21:33 Verona 1-0 Udinese: Diego Coppola!

Incredible, it’s the 93rd minute, the last seconds of the match, corner comes in and Coppola header into the far top corner!

21:32 Udinese sub

Success on for Lucca.

21:31 Verona again

Noslin header cleared not quite off the line, but in the six-yard box.

21:28 Verona off the crossbar!

Oooh! Set play into the box, Folorunsho header thumps the frame of the goal!

21:23 Verona subs

Suslov and Duda on, Cabal and Serdar off

21:21 Udinese sub

Joao Ferreira on for Ehizibue.

21:18 Verona sub

Ruben Vinagre replaces Lazovic.

21:16 It’s just chaos

The midfields have vanished, it’s just people trying to shoot from any angle. Serdar effort smothered after Noslin tries to flick it over Kristensen and yet another shot charged down.

21:15 Bijol wide

Udinese corner, Bijol nods it wide.

21:14 Udinese pushing

General Chaos! Udinese have about 4 shots in a row charged down.

21:12 Offside flag

Ehizibue shoots at Montipo’ one-on-one after running onto a ball over the top. Offside flag eventually goes up and that one was much tighter.

21:11 Series of Verona corners

After those wasted Udinese chances, now it’s Verona’s turn to pile on the pressure. Series of corners, Bijol decisive interception on the cross-shot, then Cabal fires at the goalkeeper.

21:04 Udinese goal disallowed!

Roberto Pereyra did brilliantly to control the pass and dribble around Montipo’ to deposit into the empty net. But he was offside.

21:03 Scorpion kick

Intriguing. Udinese corner flicked on, it’s behind Pereyra, so he attempts a scorpion kick and it loops onto the roof of the net.

20:59 Verona subs

Swiderski and Bonazzoli on, Mitrovic and Dani Silva off.

20:53 Udinese again

Samardzic corner and Bijol header is inches wide!

20:52 How?

Udinese, what happened there? Kamara cross from the left, Ehizibue is in front of the defender, he has to score from 10 yards – he doesn’t even make contact with the ball! Had all the time and space, just misjudged it completely. Shocker.

20:49 Udinese miss!

Samardzic gets to seven yards out, looks like he has to score, it’s on his weaker right foot so he back-heels it to Lucca to balloon over!

20:48 Verona attack

Folorunsho pulls back for Noslin, who is so eager to throw himself at the ball that he forgets where his feet are and stumbles.

20:46 2nd half kicks off: Verona 0-0 Udinese

20:31 Half-Time: Verona 0-0 Udinese

Two massive Verona chances right on the stroke of half-time there.

20:30 Verona hit the woodwork!

Totally free Noslin header on the corner, he hits it against the near post!

20:28 Verona chance!

Ooh! Pull-back from the by-line, Noslin just had to tap in from three yards, Ehizibue with an absolutely decisive block!

20:24 Verona unfortunate

Dani Silva controls well, shot from the edge of the area deflected off first Pereyra and then his teammate Noslin, so not even a corner.

20:18 Udinese close

Samardzic free kick goes just wide of the near post after bending around the wall.

20:16 Verona appeals

Centonze goes down under a nudge from Kamara. Not enough for a penalty.

20:14 Another card

Samardzic becomes the fourth player booked for a foul from behind.

20:11 Oh what a save!

That was a very strange corner, low and somehow came through to Lucca to prod it from eight yards, Montipo’ stuck out a boot to parry!

20:11 Udinese react

Samardzic goes down on the edge of the area, ref waves play on, Payero strike deflected for a corner.

20:07 Cabal over

Lazovic corner, Cabal nods over the bar.

20:06 Verona win a corner

Folorunsho just about keeps it in play at the by-line and pulls back, crucial block for a corner.

20:04 Ouch

Verona defender Centonze sprinting when his studs get caught in the turf. His leg turned in a rather odd way, fortunately he seems alright.

20:01 So many cards

As you’d expect from a relegation dogfight, it’s a bit feisty. Cabal and Walace both booked in the last couple of minutes.

20:00 Udinese push

Samardzic whips a free kick to the back post, Bijol at full stretch can’t quite get on the end of it.

19:58 Noslin too slow

Noslin runs into the box, takes too long to get the shot away and Bijol makes a decisive tackle. Serdar then late into his challenge and is booked.

19:53 Verona threaten

Corner kick finds Coppola, who shins it over from six yards!

19:50 Udinese chance

Free kick knocked down for Payero to blast over from the edge of the area.

19:45 We have kick-off in Verona vs. Udinese!

Hellas Verona: Montipò; Centonze, Magnani, Coppola, Cabal; Serdar, Dani Silva; Mitrovic, Folorunsho, Lazovic; Noslin.
Udinese: Okoye; Perez, Bijol, Kristensen; Ehizibue, Samardzic, Walace, Payero, Kamara; Pereyra; Lucca

19:44 A minute’s silence

A minute’s silence before all games this weekend for Mattia Giani, the player who died during a semi-pro game last week.

19:43 What a battle

Verona and Udinese are level on points, both one point clear of the drop zone.

19:20 Calzona apology

 

19:00 Verona-Udinese

The Friulani have a game in hand, as last week’s match with Roma was suspended at the 72nd minute with the scores at 1-1, so the remaining 20 minutes will be played on April 25.

Serdar returns from his ban for the hosts, while Sandi Lovric, Florian Thauvin, Lautaro Giannetti, Keinan Davis, Enzo Ebosse and Gerard Deulofeu didn’t make the trip.

18:54 Verona vs. Udinese line-ups

Hellas Verona: Montipò; Centonze, Magnani, Coppola, Cabal; Serdar, Dani Silva; Mitrovic, Folorunsho, Lazovic; Noslin.
Udinese: Okoye; Perez, Bijol, Kristensen; Ehizibue, Samardzic, Walace, Payero, Kamara; Pereyra; Lucca

18:53 Napoli players getting insulted

Napoli players standing under the away end getting lectured, shouted at and insulted by their own fans. A very Italian football scene.

18:51 Match report

 

18:50 FT: Empoli 1-0 Napoli

A huge result for Empoli, who had lost five of their last six. Fully deserved.

18:47 Ngonge effort

Ngonge has a hopefully attempt charged down on the edge of the area, but not sure it was going on target anyway.

18:46 Into stoppages

4 minutes. Napoli look like they really don’t believe they can score.

18:44 Napoli sub

Simeone on, Anguissa off.

18:40 It has to be said

We cannot think of a genuine scoring opportunity where Napoli really tested Empoli.

18:38 Caprile alert

Through ball for Osimhen, Caprile is very quick off his line and gets two hands on the ball before Osimhen catches him on the wrist.

18:37 Empoli subs

Cacace and Bastoni on, the absolutely exhausted Grassi and Pezzella off.

18:35 Napoli tension growing

 

18:32 Oof

That was rude. Ostigard whacked up an arm to hit Luperto in the throat as they were wrestling on a corner. He’s ok now, but was struggling to breathe for a bit.

18:30 Osimhen scare

Osimhen threatened to go clear on a through ball, but Luperto managed to sprint back and get there first.

18:27 Napoli subs

Raspadori and Ngonge on, Politano and Kvaratskhelia off. Politano seemed to say something not exactly kind to Calzona there…

18:25 Empoli subs

Cancellieri and Zurkowski on, Fazzini and Cambiaghi off.

18:22 Getting closer

Kvaratskhelia dribbles past two, finish deflected inches over the bar! Corner.

18:22 Politano run

Politano dribbles forward, he does shoot and it’s deflected over, Osimhen waves his arms demanding a pass.

18:20 Oh Anguissa

It was all going so well. Anguissa dribbles into the box, shakes off a defender, can go for goal, instead tries to lay it off for Osimhen and gets the pass all wrong.

18:19 Napoli pressure

Pressure yes, but no accuracy. Crosses over-hit, passes under-hit. Not breaking Empoli down at all.

18:14 Caprile save

Caprile punches away the Politano free kick and is then clattered by Ostigard. The rain has resumed in Empoli. With sun. At least we might get a rainbow.

18:13 Bereszynski carded

Osimhen tries to sprint forward, cuts inside Bereszynski and has his heels clipped.

18:09 Pezzella booked

Brings down Politano.

18:08 Ouch

Di Lorenzo attempted a shimmy, but cutting inside ran straight into Maleh’s shoulder.

18:05 Politano chance

Cuts inside, left-foot low curler deflected just wide for a corner. On that corner, Anguissa knocks it down for Juan Jesus shot charged down.

18:03 Di Lorenzo cross

Di Lorenzo cross to the back post for the Invisible Man.

18:00 2nd half kicks off: Empoli 1-0 Napoli

17:59 Napoli sub

Natan off, Mazzocchi on. Mazzocchi was meant to start, but was debilitated by flu.

17:46 Half-Time: Empoli 1-0 Napoli

The loud jeers show you just how many Napoli fans are here – circa 4,000.

17:41 Fazzini got a knock

Accidental, was on the end of a flailing Natan arm.

17:38 Empoli swarming

Series of crosses, deflections, half-headers until eventually it is fired over because Cambiaghi slips. Napoli are struggling badly.

17:36 Juan Jesus booked

Kvara robbed by Maleh sliding tackle, then Juan Jesus foul stops an Empoli counter and is carded.

17:35 What a chance for Empoli!

How did that not go in?!? Empoli counter-attack, Niang dribbles past Juan Jesus, who falls over, rolls across for Cambiaghi, who incredibly sweeps it onto the outside of the near post undisturbed from 10 yards!

17:30 Acrobatic Osimhen

Osimhen gathers with his back to goal, juggles the ball up and flicks it behind him with the right boot, but Caprile was right behind it.

17:29 Empoli again

Cross from the left, it’s a bit behind Fazzini, who can’t keep the header down.

17:27 Napoli protest continues

Almost 4,000 Napoli fans here today, but they left the away end empty for the first 15 minutes, leaving only a banner that reads: ‘Only the fans always win.’ Lucky they missed the goal, really.

17:26 Empoli move

Niang runs down the left, takes too long to lay it off for Cambiaghi and it’s behind him.

17:23 Napoli chance

Caprile flaps at a corner, then uses his foot to parry the Kvaratskhelia effort at the near post, but Juan Jesus also flattened Grassi.

17:19 Empoli sub

Niang replaces Cerri.

17:18 Problem for Empoli

Napoli corner, Cerri jumps up to clear, lands and immediately clutches the back of his right thigh. He is done.

17:16 Empoli still pushing

Empoli are evidently sharper and more aggressive, getting to every ball first. They force a corner.

17:12 Cerri goal

 

17:11 Crowd groans

Kvaratskhelia with an irritated wave after a misplaced pass.

17:07 Empoli appeals

They get down the left this time, low cross for Cerri who goes down under pressure from Juan Jesus, but nowhere near enough for a penalty. The move continues and his header is wide.

17:04 Empoli 1-0 Napoli: Alberto Cerri!

Not the start De Laurentiis wanted, but definitely the one Empoli were looking for. Long ball down the right, Gyasi stands up a cross from the by-line and Cerri allowed a header at the back post!

17:00 We have kick-off in Empoli vs. Napoli!

Empoli wear black armbands today following the death of former President Pietro Allegri at the age of 89.

16:58 A minute’s silence

A minute’s silence before kick-off in all games this weekend for Mattia Giani, the player who died during a semi-pro game last week. He had been in the Empoli youth academy.

16:55 Empoli vs. Napoli line-ups

Empoli: Caprile; Bereszynski, Walukiewicz, Luperto; Gyasi, Maleh, Grassi, Pezzella; Fazzini, Cambiaghi; Cerri

Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Juan Jesus, Natan; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia

16:53 Francesco Calzona

 

16:39 De Laurentiis is here

Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis is in the stands of the Stadio Castellani.

16:24 Warm-ups

You can watch the warm-ups from Empoli vs. Napoli live on the Lega Serie A YouTube Channel.

16:23 Empoli in mourning

Empoli will wear black armbands today following the death of former President Pietro Allegri at the age of 89.

He had been at the helm of the Tuscan club from the late 1980s to early 1990s.

16:21 Napoli arrive

 

16:07 Napoli defence decimated

Both Amir Rrahmani and Mario Rui are suspended, with Mathias Olivera injured, but Juan Jesus returns.

Pasquale Mazzocchi was meant to start, but he was struck by a bout of flu, so Natan gets his first appearance since February 28 and has to fill in at left-back.

16:07 Team News

 

16:04 Empoli vs. Napoli line-ups

Empoli: Caprile; Bereszynski, Walukiewicz, Luperto; Gyasi, Maleh, Grassi, Pezzella; Fazzini, Cambiaghi; Cerri

Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Juan Jesus, Natan; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia

Join us for all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s Serie A games, as Napoli try to get back into the European race visiting Empoli, plus a Verona-Udinese relegation dogfight.

Week 33 began on Friday with Lazio’s 1-0 victory away to Genoa and Juventus fighting back from 2-0 down to rescue a point in Cagliari.

We kick off today at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT) at the Stadio Castellani, where Napoli aim to keep European hopes alive against relegation-threatened Empoli.

At 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), it’s a desperate head-to-head between Verona and Udinese.

Byfbadmin

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