Napoli win in Pisa and qualify for next season’s Champions League.
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The Azzurri controlled the match from the opening minutes, while the Nerazzurri crowd, despite relegation, responded with a spectacular choreography and the message: “This stand does not go down”.
Conte’s side took the lead in the 21st minute through McTominay: a vertical pass from Lobotka, a layoff from Hojlund, and a precise right-footed shot from the Scot that hit the post before going in. For the former United man, it was his tenth goal of the season, a milestone that brings him close to Hamsik’s numbers. Napoli then doubled their lead shortly after through Rrahmani, who rose highest from a corner taken by Elmas: Semper tried to keep it out, but goal-line technology confirmed the 0-2.
Napoli dominated possession and controlled the game, but Pisa nearly scored in first-half stoppage time through Stojlkovic, denied by a great save from Meret. The Tuscans also tried to get back into the game in the second half, while tempers flared in the 52nd minute after Calabresi pulled Elmas: the two squared up and Fourneau booked them both. Shortly after, Conte took the Macedonian off and brought on Kevin De Bruyne to lock down the result, which was then sealed by Hojlund, who found the net again from a scrappy assist by Mazzocchi. Incidentally, with this qualification, the Dane’s purchase is now official.
🔚 Napoli QUALIFIED for the 26/27 Champions League
By winning this match, Napoli are now mathematically certain of playing in the next edition of the Champions League. It is the club’s thirteenth qualification, the eleventh under Aurelio De Laurentiis for Europe’s most important competition.
⚽ Hojlund scores again, MAKES it 3-0 and triggers the buy option!
90'+ MINUTE – The Danish striker also got back on the scoresheet, from an assist by Mazzocchi. The former United man beat Semper with his left foot and scored his eleventh Serie A goal.
Napoli will now activate the €44 million clause to sign Rasmus Højlund permanently from Manchester United: a deal tied to Champions League qualification, which is now secure. United will receive a total of €50 million, also taking into account the €6 million paid for last summer’s loan.
💥 Elmas-Calabresi CLASH: both booked, Conte brings on KDB
52ND MINUTE – Napoli were under threat again at the start of the second half, but Meret saved everything and spared the Azzurri bigger problems. Shortly after, tempers also flared on the pitch: sparks between Elmas and Calabresi after the Macedonian angrily reacted to being pulled by the shirt. Fourneau booked both, and Conte replaced him soon after with Kevin De Bruyne.
🧤 Napoli ahead at half-time, Meret saves everything
Napoli went into half-time 0-2 up, dominating possession and controlling the game: the Azzurri kept the ball for 73% of the time and created more chances than Pisa, despite a lower xG (0.69 – 0.38).
Pisa’s higher figure came because, right at the end of the half, they nearly scored the goal that would have reopened the match: Moreo crossed from the left, Buongiorno missed the intervention, and Stojlkovic found himself one-on-one with Meret, who saved Napoli by parrying the close-range effort: a 0.59 xG chance.
⚽ Rrahmani doubles the lead: confirmed by goal-line technology
27TH MINUTE – Napoli struck again and doubled their lead through Rrahmani.
From a corner delivered by Elmas, the defender rose highest in the box and directed the ball toward goal: Semper tried to intervene with a diving save, but the ball had crossed the line, with referee Fourneau assisted by goal-line technology.
Qualification for next season’s Champions League is now very close for Napoli.
⚽ McTominay OPENS the scoring, in Hamsik style!
21ST MINUTE – With a billiard-like finish, Scott McTominay opened the scoring in the match.
The move started with a vertical play from Lobotka to Hojlund, who did well to lay it off on the edge of the box for the Scot: precise right-footed shot, off the inside of the post and into the net behind Semper for Napoli’s 0-1 lead.
RANDOM STATS: Tenth goal for McTominay: today he became the second Napoli midfielder in the last 90 years to reach double figures for goals in two different seasons in the competition, after Marek Hamsík (four times).
⚫🔵 “This stand does not go down,” shout Pisa fans
Despite relegation already being mathematically certain, Pisa’s fans showed up in force with a choreography that turned the entire stand Nerazzurri: “This stand does not go down,” a clear message from the supporters.
⚡ Napoli want to take the lead straight away
Napoli started aggressively and in the opening 15 minutes immediately tried to steer the match their way: Lobotka and Spinazzola looked to create danger down the flanks, while Pisa sat deep and repelled the Azzurri’s attempts.
Conte’s team raised the tempo as the minutes passed: Beukema tested Semper from distance, then in the 16th minute Rrahmani picked out Hojlund in the box but the striker’s header went wide.
🗣 Conte on leaving KDB out from the start
Speaking to DAZN, Antonio Conte said: "It’s inevitable that nobody likes losing, especially in the way it happened against Bologna in the final minutes. You have to reset and prepare for the next match, which is today’s, and for us it’s an important one. De Bruyne on the bench? These are normal choices from a coach who sees the week in training and makes technical decisions".
✅ OFFICIAL lineups
PISA (3-5-2): Semper; Calabresi, Caracciolo, Canestrelli; Leris, Akinsanmiro, Aebischer, Hojholt, Angori; Moreo, Stojilkovic.
NAPOLI (3-4-2-1): Meret; Beukema, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, McTominay, Spinazzola; Elmas, Alisson; Hojlund.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.
