Napoli won 4-1 at Monza on Wednesday night in Serie A Matchday 9, with Rasmus Højlund, Matteo Politano, Rafa Marín and substitute Kevin De Bruyne scoring, according to SSC Napoli and Football Italia. Midfielder Stanislav Lobotka was stretchered off in the first half.
Match facts
- Result: Monza 1-4 Napoli (half-time 1-1)
- Competition: Serie A, Matchday 9
- Venue: U-Power Stadium, Monza
- Scorers: Monza - Varela 43'; Napoli - Højlund 10', Politano 48', Rafa Marín 62', De Bruyne 67'
- Assists: Monza - Robinson 43'; Napoli - Di Lorenzo 10', Politano 62', Lang 67'
- Red cards: None
- Next: Juventus v Napoli, Serie A, Sunday
How the match unfolded
With Massimiliano Allegri serving a touchline ban, assistant Marco Landucci led Napoli from the bench. In the 10th minute Giovanni Di Lorenzo won the ball in midfield and sent Højlund through to finish with his left foot, ending the Dane's eight-match goal drought in all competitions.
Napoli then lost Lobotka, who was hurt when Ricardo Mangas fell on his ankle. He was stretchered off and replaced by Billy Gilmour in the 17th minute. Football Italia reported he was taken to hospital for X-rays; Napoli have not yet given an update.
Monza grew into the game and Vanja Milinkovic-Savic made several saves before Gustavo Varela equalised in the 43rd minute, glancing in a header from Jay Robinson's cross.
Napoli went back ahead in the 48th minute when Politano intercepted a pass out of defence, cut inside and curled a shot into the far corner. In the 62nd minute Rafa Marín headed in Politano's corner for his first Napoli goal. Five minutes later Noa Lang's pass sent substitute De Bruyne through on the left, and the Belgian beat Noel Törnqvist to make it 4-1.
What does it mean?
The win gave Napoli a run of three league games without defeat, after the loss at Venezia and the 3-3 draw with Roma, but they remain in mid-table after nine matches.
What happens next?
Napoli travel to Juventus on Sunday, after Juventus lost 2-0 at Genoa on the same night.
Read more: Napoli 3-3 Roma, Venezia 1-0 Napoli and Torino 3-2 Monza. More in Serie A news.
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