‘For Diego’: Napoli beat Roma 4-0 amid Maradona tributes

Napoli beat Roma 4-Zero in an emotional match within the Italian league because the workforce paid tribute to Diego Maradona. It was Napoli’s first Serie A recreation since Maradona died on Wednesday in his native Argentina. Maradona led Napoli to its solely two Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990 and is taken into account a god-like determine within the southern metropolis.

“Certainly I played with an extra motivation, so did all my teammates,” Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne mentioned. “We’ve lost our idol and it hurts.

“Today without doubt we wanted even more than normal to get a result, for Diego, for our city which is suffering this loss. We dedicate the victory to him.”

The victory noticed Napoli transfer stage with Roma and Juventus, six factors beneath chief AC Milan, which beat Fiorentina 2-Zero earlier within the day. There was a touching second earlier than the sport when Insigne positioned bouquets of flowers beneath banners devoted to Maradona, displayed within the empty stands at both finish of the stadium.

Napoli’s Stadio San Paolo will formally be renamed the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

There was a tribute to Maradona in all Serie A matches this weekend. That included a minute of silence for Maradona, whereas his picture was additionally projected on the stadium screens once more within the 10th minute, in honor of his shirt quantity. All gamers stopped to applaud.

Napoli gamers had been carrying a particular equipment which bore a resemblance to the Argentina jersey in honor of Maradona. Insigne additionally held up a shirt with Maradona’s identify and quantity and kissed it after scoring the opening aim with a free kick within the 31st.

Fabián Ruiz doubled Napoli’s lead within the 64th, ending off a counterattack with a low shot into the underside proper nook. Roma provided little and Napoli successfully sealed the match 9 minutes from time when Antonio Mirante might solely parry Elif Elmas’ try and Dries Mertens turned within the rebound.

Substitute Matteo Politano added one other aim 5 minutes later with a sensational solo run.

NO IBRA, NO PROBLEM

Despite the absence of its coach and star striker, AC Milan maintained its unbeaten begin to the Serie A season. Alessio Romagnoli’s header and Franck Kessié’s penalty within the first half secured the victory in entrance of the watching Zlatan Ibrahimović, who was injured however cheering his teammates on from the stands.

Milan coach Stefano Pioli was nonetheless absent after testing positive for the coronavirus. The Rossoneri moved 5 factors away from Inter Milan and Sassuolo, which each performed on Saturday.

Milan took the lead within the 17th minute when Romagnoli was left unmarked to move in a nook on the again submit. Dušan Vlahović virtually equalized shortly after however his effort was tipped onto the submit by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Instead, it was Milan that doubled its lead within the 28th when Kessié transformed a penalty after Alexis Saelemaekers was tripped by Germán Pezzella. Kessié had one other penalty saved by Fiorentina goalkeeper Bartłomiej Drągowski 5 minutes from time following a foul by Martín Cáceres on Theo Hernández.

Milan might have prolonged its lead early within the second half however Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s strike got here off the submit.

OTHER MATCHES

Udinese was lacking various gamers due to the coronavirus however managed to win 3-1 at Lazio. Tolgay Arslan, Ignacio Pussetto and Fernando Forestieri scored for Udinese earlier than Ciro Immobile’s penalty.

Bologna beat backside membership Crotone 1-0. Cagliari drew 2-2 towards Spezia.