Napoli demolished Spezia 4-0 in the first half, then sat back and had a slight scare at 4-2, but will face Atalanta in the Coppa Italia semi-final.
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The Partenopei book their appointment with Atalanta in the two-legged semi-final on February 3 and 10.
Napoli demolished Spezia 4-0 in the first half, then sat back and had a slight scare at 4-2, but will face Atalanta in the Coppa Italia semi-final.
Follow all the action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
The Partenopei book their appointment with Atalanta in the two-legged semi-final on February 3 and 10.
Both teams were missing most of their striking options, as Dries Mertens, Victor Osimhen and Andrea Petagna were all carrying knocks for the hosts, while M’Baye Nzola, Roberto Piccoli, Riccardo Saponara, Tommaso Pobega and Federico Mattiello injured.
It took under five minutes to break the deadlock in chaotic fashion, as Piotr Zielinski’s deflected strike bounced off the top of the bar, so Elseid Hysaj rolled across for Kalidou Koulibaly’s intelligent back-heel flick from six yards.
Spezia could’ve equalised moments later, but Kostas Manolas sliding did just enough to stop Estevez tapping in the Daniele Verde assist.
Titas Krapikas fingertipped a Mario Rui lob over the bar, then Chucky Lozano added a second when springing the offside trap to control a Piotr Zielinski ball over the top and blast into the roof of the net.
The third goal was not dissimilar, as Zielinski floated another ball over for Matteo Politano to go clear on goal, with a nonchalant finish off the outside of the boot to beat the on-rushing Krapikas from six yards.
Insigne tried to lob the goalkeeper from midfield, just over the bar as he scrambled back, then forced a save with a right-foot curler.
Insigne was involved to create the fourth goal, as he turned Adrian Ismajli with a shimmy in midfield, sprinted forward and the slide-rule pass sent Eljif Elmas clear to score.
Dries Mertens came on for the second half and Politano forced a save within seconds of the restart, but Napoli visibly took their foot off the gas and allowed Spezia to play.
Gennaro Acampora, who used to be a Napoli ball boy for his hometown club, burst down the left and rolled across for Emanuel Gyasi to come sliding in on a consolation goal.
It was more than that, because moments later Acampora’s shot from the edge of the box took a deflection to wrong-foot David Ospina at the near post. Spezia had won here 2-1 in Serie A just a few weeks ago.
Napoli threatened again, the Diego Demme angled drive fingertipped onto the far post by Krapikas, but Spezia dominated possession for the final 15 minutes to restore a little pride.
Napoli 4-2 Spezia
Koulibaly 5 (N), Lozano 20 (N), Politano 30 (N), Elmas 40 (N), Gyasi 70 (S), Acampora 73 (S)
Napoli: Ospina; Hysaj, Manolas, Koulibaly, Mario Rui; Elmas (Lobotka 69), Demme, Zielinski (Osimhen 69); Politano (Di Lorenzo 88), Lozano (Mertens 46) (Bakayoko 88), Insigne
Spezia: Krapikas; Vignali (Ramos 74), Ismajli (Bastoni 46), Terzi, Dell’Orco; Estevez (Sena 46), Ricci, Acampora; Gyasi (Farias 74), Galabinov (Agudelo 46), Verde
Ref: Fourneau