If it weren’t for VAR – Napoli vs Verona and video reviews only end in a draw

Napoli were heavy favorites against Verona, a team from the lower part of the table. However, the first half went in the visitors’ favor as they took a 2–0 lead, raising the specter of a Napoli disaster. In the end, the hosts managed to fight back and earn a draw, though only after having several goals disallowed to their detriment.

The first half at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium saw a surprising turn of events, with Verona taking a 2-0 lead against Napoli.

Napoli started strongly and created the first real chance in the 8th minute. Di Lorenzo delivered a well-placed ball down the right, and Elmas had a good opportunity to score, but Montipo made a confident save to keep his goal intact.

Verona responded in the 15th minute when Orban found a small pocket of space and fired toward goal, but Milinkovic-Savic was alert and blocked the attempt. Just a minute later, Verona stunned the home crowd. A beautifully worked move saw Bradaric exploit space on the right, sending a precise cross into the box, where Frese elegantly finished with a backheel to put Verona ahead 1-0 in Naples.

In the 21st minute, Orban tried his luck again from nearly 30 meters, but his powerful shot went wide.

The decisive moment came in the 26th minute when Verona was awarded a penalty. During an aerial challenge inside the box, Buongiorno handled the ball, prompting a lengthy VAR review lasting almost four minutes. The referee ultimately pointed to the spot, and Orban confidently converted the penalty to make it 2-0 in favor of the visitors.

Napoli had another chance in the 34th minute when Hojlund connected with a Di Lorenzo cross, but his header went just wide of Montipo’s goal.

In the 53rd minute, the hosts created their first clear chance of the second half when Lang found space for a shot, but Montipo reacted well to keep Verona in front. Just seconds later, Napoli found the breakthrough. Following a disastrous reaction from the Verona goalkeeper, Scott McTominay sent the ball toward goal. Valentini tried to clear it off the line with a header and got a touch, but the ball still ended up in the net, with the goal ultimately credited to the Scottish international.

Napoli continued to press, and in the 58th minute Hojlund had a golden opportunity after the ball fell to him inside the box following confusion in Verona’s defense. However, the Danish striker failed to hit the target.

Verona did not retreat after conceding and continued to threaten on the counter. In the 65th minute, Bernede unleashed a powerful effort from around 25 meters, but his shot narrowly missed the target and flew over the bar.

The drama peaked in the 72nd minute when Napoli thought they had equalized. After Verona reacted poorly to a cross, the ball fell to Hojlund, who showed great composure in a tight space and beat Montipo to make it 2–2. However, after a lengthy VAR review, the goal was disallowed for handball, leaving Verona still in front at 2–1.

Napoli then saw yet another goal ruled out. Lobotka found the net following a free kick, but the move was stopped after Rahmani was deemed to be offside in the build-up.

Persistence finally paid off in the 82nd minute. Di Lorenzo scored a superb goal after Marianucci delivered a cross from the right. From a difficult angle, Napoli’s captain struck the ball perfectly into the far corner, leaving the goalkeeper helpless and leveling the score at 2–2.

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 19

Tuesday

Pisa - Como 0-3 (0-0)

/Perrone 68, Douvikas 76, 90+6 pen/

Lecce - Roma 0-2 (0-1)

/Ferguson 14, Dovbyk 71/

Sassuolo - Juventus 0-3 (0-1)

/Muharemovic 16 og, Miretti 62, David 63/

Wednesday

Bologna - Atalanta 0-2 (0-1)

/Krstovic 37, 60/

Napoli - Verona 2-2 (0-2)

/McTominay 54, Di Lorenzo 82 - Frese 16, Orban 28 pen/

22.45: (2.45) Lazio (3.30) Fiorentina (3.20)

22.45: (9.00) Parma (5.00) Inter (1.40)

22.45: (2.40) Torino (3.25) Udinese (3.30)

Thursday

20.30: (2.45) Cremonese (3.15) Cagliari (3.05)

22.45: (1.43) Milan (4.30) Genoa (8.00)

***odds are subject to change***