Chapter 127: In Control

Chapter 127: In Control

After equalizing, Napoli pressed forward, looking to capitalize on the momentum and score another goal to take the lead while Udinese was reeling from their setback. However, they quickly discovered that Udinese hadn't descended into disarray as expected. Udinese's disciplined full-field pressing made it difficult for Napoli to find their rhythm.

Particularly, Udinese's defensive midfielders, Kanté and Allan, tirelessly harried their opponents, effectively stifling Napoli's advances in midfield. Allan's attitude in the game was unproblematic, but he had previously been perceived as somewhat lackluster in defense. However, those who had been watching him closely would notice significant improvements in his defensive engagements.

Against the backdrop of Udinese's intensified effort, any seeming laziness from Allan appeared more like a contrast-induced illusion. And in today's Coppa Italia final, Allan was indeed fighting desperately. Clearly, with the championship within reach, the Brazilian was giving it his all.

——————

In terms of raw ability, Napoli was superior to Udinese, but in the fierce midfield confrontations, Udinese surprisingly held the upper hand. Napoli's midfield, ostensibly anchored by Behrami and Jorginho, both displayed tendencies to join the attack rather than hold their positions.

Behrami had notable stats from the previous Serie A season with 6 goals and 2 assists in 31 games, exceptional for a defensive midfielder. Jorginho, before his winter transfer to Napoli from Verona, had impressive tallies of 7 goals and 3 assists in 18 Serie A appearances, surpassing many attacking midfielders, including Juventus's Pogba, who had 7 goals and 7 assists for the season.

Their offensive output indicated their versatility, but it also suggested a lack of commitment to defensive duties. Correspondingly, the defensive records of both teams were subpar. Napoli conceded 40 goals in 35 Serie A matches, slightly better than Udinese.

Verona, Jorginho's team before Napoli, despite being the season's dark horse, had an even worse defensive record, conceding 32 goals in 19 matches, six more than Udinese during the same period.

——————

On Udinese's side, Kanté played as a pure defensive midfielder, rarely venturing forward and spending most of the game in a defensive posture. Allan had made significant progress this season, becoming proficient both offensively and defensively. He was no longer the type of playmaking midfielder who shirks defensive responsibilities.

Moreover, Udinese's midfield and forward lines, including Pjanić, Bruno, Mahrez, and Di Natale, all actively participated in defense with vigorous pressing, contributing to a defense that Napoli struggled to bypass.

After equalizing, Napoli seemed poised to dominate, but the expected siege on Udinese's goal did not materialize. The midfield battle intensified, and surprisingly, Udinese began to dictate the play.

Unable to control the midfield, Napoli resorted to attacking from the wings, but attempts by Insigne and Callejón to deliver crosses were consistently neutralized by Danilo and Domizzi.

In response, Napoli's coach Benitez made several tactical adjustments, placing his hopes on captain Hamšík to invigorate Napoli's offense with his ability to both create and finish plays. But Guidolin was prepared for this.

——————

Hamšík felt the increased pressure from Udinese's defense; getting the ball easily was now wishful thinking. He attempted to leverage his skills and speed to break through, but soon realized individual efforts were insufficient. Just as he managed to dribble past Domizzi and aimed to cut inside, Kanté closed him down. When Hamšík tried to shift direction, Domizzi was already back in position, and Kanté decisively tackled the ball away.

Guidolin was pleased with his team's performance; by focusing on Hamšík, Napoli's threat was significantly reduced. After analyzing many of Napoli's games, Guidolin identified the nearly 27-year-old Slovak as one of Napoli's main threats, second only to Higuaín.

Foreseeing Napoli's aggressive counterattacks after Udinese's goal, Guidolin had instructed his players to tightly mark Hamšík, anticipating that once Napoli's wing attacks were contained, Benitez would grant Hamšík greater offensive freedom.

Benitez thought he had outwitted Guidolin, but he only saw the most apparent tactics, which Guidolin did not mind being transparent about. In reality, Guidolin had a deeper understanding of the opposing Spanish coach's strategies.

——————

Twenty more minutes passed, and with nearly half an hour gone, Napoli had not managed to take the lead; the score remained 1:1. Napoli's closest chance came in the 28th minute. Higuaín and Hamšík executed a give-and-go. After Hamšík elegantly dribbled past Allan and was about to break past Domizzi, he suddenly pulled back, shifting direction just as Kanté approached for an intercept. Hamšík skillfully let the ball run to the wing where Callejón sent a low cross into the box.

At that moment, Udinese's penalty area was exposed. Hamšík's feint had drawn Udinese's defenders, but fortunately for Udinese, Kanté was alert and swift enough to clear the ball before Insigne could shoot, potentially doubling his tally for the night.

Seeing Udinese squander a prime scoring opportunity, Benitez was visibly frustrated. As Napoli continued to attack from a corner, Hamšík opted for a tactical play, passing to Jorginho who chested the ball down and turned to face an onrushing Kanté.

Just as Jorginho was about to pass, Kanté arrived, colliding with him and poking the ball away, causing Jorginho to stumble and fall.

Nearby, Behrami made a critical error by not immediately challenging; instead, he signaled for a foul. But the referee indicated play should continue, allowing Kanté to advance with the ball. Hearing Guidolin's shout from the sidelines, "Quick pass!", Kanté reluctantly passed forward, acknowledging the coach's limited faith in his ball-carrying ability.

As Napoli's midfield was caught off-guard, Udinese's commentator excitedly proclaimed, "This is our chance for a counterattack, and now it's Allan with the ball."

Albiol and the wing-back Moretti rushed to close down Allan, who seized the opportunity to pass the ball as they approached. Behind Allan, Mahrez charged forward, receiving the ball perfectly timed.

"Mahrez! He's onside! Perfect timing!" exclaimed Benitez as Mahrez cut inside the box, feinting a shot that fooled defender Fernandez into blocking. Instead, Mahrez passed sideways.

Following up, Bruno, facing away from goal, cleverly flicked the ball with his heel. The ball skidded along the grass, slipping past Napoli's German goalkeeper Reina and into the net.

"GOOOOOOOOL!!!"

"2:1! Bruno scores, giving Udinese the lead again at 29 minutes. Who could have anticipated this?" marvelled the commentator, as Udinese fans erupted in cheers and Guidolin jubilantly celebrated on the sidelines.

(End of Chapter)