Napoli wins the Coppa Italia: 3 things we learned

Napoli won the Coppa Italia on Wednesday against rivals Juventus on penalties. Here are three things we learned.

Napoli captured the Coppa Italia on Wednesday against Juventus in Rome 4-2 via a penalty-kick shootout, the first major tournament of the season after the domestic season was placed on hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The scoreless stalemate after regulation was typical of Italian soccer, highlighted by defensive tactics and the counterattack. Napoli, in particular, played a defensive-minded game in the hopes of frustrating Juventus and pushing the game to a shootout.

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Napoli did press forward in the second half, but veteran Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon came through for his side down the stretch. Overall, Napoli strikers Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens were a non-factor throughout much of the match.

The game was far from a classic. Sharpness was lacking throughout and intensity, both due to physical fitness issues and lack of spectators in the fans, was evident for much of the game.

Here are three things we learned from the game.

Juventus can be vulnerable to defeat

It’s true that Juventus dominated possession for long stretches, but what they failed to do with the ball was a major talking point. Missed chances in the first half didn’t help as the Napoli backline, really the whole team, played deep in the back and absorbed the pressure.

Juve’s second straight scoreless draw is a sign that they have issues in attack. Poor play on the wings and an inability to unlock Napoli’s defense were both troubling signs. Certainly, Lazio, currently in second place in Serie A, was paying attention as Juve struggled. Only a point behind them in the league standings, Lazio were taking notes and hoping the Old Lady’s vulnerabilities carry over into the title race.

Ronaldo remains rusty

Cristiano Ronaldo, just days after missing a penalty kick in the Coppa Italia semifinals against AC Milan, wasn’t as sharp as he could be in the final. Napoli’s defense did a solid job neutralizing the Portuguese superstar for long stretches of the match.

While Ronaldo is always the storyline whenever Juve takes the field, Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, back from injury, was top-notch in the back. Ronaldo had his fair share of the ball and acres of space at times, but he remains rusty after the three-month stoppage. When Ronaldo did show skill, he had no one to provide him the ball.

No fans made a difference

That the match had no fans highlighted the need for spectators, especially in high-stakes games. The lack of fans at the Stadio Olimpico, especially for a final, failed to energize the players on both sides.

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Indeed, the virtual fans were a strange addition. Even the do-it-yourself trophy presentation was odd, a sign of our current times. This is something fans watching at home will have to get used to. Which players and teams can succeed with no passionate spectators remains a big mystery as the Serie A season starts up again this Saturday.