15 shots and one Lobotka goal lift Napoli past Bologna

Napoli make their chances count

Napoli defeated Bologna 1-0 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Sunday, September 13, earning their second victory of the Serie A season. The deciding goal arrived in the 66th minute, when Stanislav Lobotka finished from an assist by Costantino Favasuli.

The result was deserved on the balance of play. Napoli had 58% possession and completed 549 passes compared with Bologna’s 401. They also produced 15 total shots, including 12 from inside the box, while Bologna managed only five attempts and two from inside the area. Napoli’s expected-goals figure of 1.81 compared with Bologna’s 0.25 further reflected the home side’s greater attacking threat, although the narrow scoreline kept the contest close.

Lobotka provides the breakthrough

The match remained goalless until Lobotka’s goal midway through the second half. Favasuli supplied the assist, and Lobotka’s finish gave Napoli the lead after the hosts had built the stronger statistical platform. Napoli registered three shots on goal and Bologna two, while Bologna goalkeeper made three saves against two for Napoli’s goalkeeper, showing that the visitors still had opportunities to resist despite their limited attacking output.

Napoli made two changes at half-time, bringing Nuno Lang on for Amir Vergara and Favasuli on for Matteo Politano. Bologna responded with two substitutions in the 58th minute, replacing Tommaso Pobega with M. Libra and Roberto Piccoli with Jens Odgaard. After the goal, Bologna also sent N. Moro on for M. Amondarain in the 66th minute. Napoli later replaced Rasmus Hojlund with Lorenzo Lucca in the 75th minute.

Bologna held scoreless

Bologna’s only booking came in the 31st minute, when Amondarain received a yellow card. Napoli committed 14 fouls to Bologna’s 10, but the home side avoided a card. Napoli’s territorial pressure was also evident from their 10 corners to Bologna’s zero. The visitors recorded three offsides, compared with two for Napoli, but could not turn their limited possession and five shots into an equaliser.

Lobotka leads Napoli’s response

Lobotka was the standout performer, receiving a match rating of 8.6 after playing 94 minutes. Alongside his winning goal, he recorded one shot on target, two key passes and two tackles. Kevin De Bruyne added four key passes and earned a 7.9 rating, while Favasuli finished with an assist, one shot on target, two key passes and three tackles in 49 minutes.

Napoli began the round 13th with three points from three matches and a record of one win and two losses. This victory moves them to six points after four games. Bologna started 16th with one point from three matches after two defeats and a draw; they remain on one point following a third defeat. The result gives Napoli a positive response after their two most recent losses, while Bologna’s winless start continues.