What a see-saw at Mapei Stadium! 6 goals and a point each between Napoli and Sassuolo

What a game at Mapei Stadium! Top-six chasing Sassuolo saw their manager Roberto De Zerbi celebrate his 100th game in charge of the Neroverdi. And as a jubilee present - a game full of goals, a sense of underachievement and an important point in the chase for the European competitions. Napoli could have made an amazing comeback but Manolas' clumsy foul in his own box made it 3-3 in the end.

Home team played without the Ivorian Jeremy Boga and Moroccan Mehdi Bourabia who are both recovering from muscle injuries. In the ranks of Napoli, they were missing Senegalese Kalidou Koulibaly (red card) and Nigerian Victor Osimhen (concussion). Two wins in four days has helped Napoli forget about an unpleasant run of four losses in the five outings prior as well as their early elimination from the Europa League, but they have a lot to be sorry for after their good performance.

Both teams were looking for their style of play in the opening minutes of the game. Minor opportunities for both sides happened in the first 15 minutes - but the only one worth mentioning happened in the 14th minute - Alex Meret was forced into action to thwart Domenico Berardi. Sassuolo winger found himself some space after latching on to a pass and unleashed a shot to the bottom right corner but couldn't beat Meret.

The first real chance for the guests in the 20th minute turned into a disallowed goal which saddened Lorenzo Insigne who netted a beautiful shot. Each of the squads showed a lot of intensity and managed to reach the opponents' box but as soon as they arrived there, both lacked that final pass or an accurate long-range attempt.

So in a lack of such a decisive move, Sassuolo managed to score from a set-piece in the 34th minute. And with some luck. Napoli's stopper, Serbian Nikola Maksimovic got on the scoresheet, but unfortunately for him, it's an own goal. However, Piotr Zielinski quickly neutralized the home team's advantage. His individual effort in the 38th minute took a lot of weight of Gatusso's shoulders and they were back to "square one". The Polish midfielder struck from medium range and placed the ball inside the left post with elegance.

Only Bayern Munich (13) have scored more goals from outside the box than Napoli (12) this season in the top-5 European leagues. After the goal from Napoli, Sassuolo looked as if they couldn't wait for the halftime whistle and you could say they seemed pretty idealess. But, "Lady Luck" helped the home team again in the 45th minute when Elseid Hysaj brought an opponent down and referee Valerio Marini interrupted the game pointing to the penalty spot. Domenico Berardi made no mistake from the spot after waiting for Alex Meret to move before rolling the ball into the middle of the goal. Berardi's 9th goal of the season, 5th from the penalty mark.

Sassuolo were close to scoring their third a few minutes after the start of the second half - Gregoire Defrel had a good opportunity when his shot was directed towards the bottom right corner, but Alex Meret was alert, he deflected the ball and managed to chase the ball down before it rolled over his goal line. Dries Mertens could have leveled it in the 58th minute - the Belgian received a chipped cross in the goal area and sent a dangerous header which sails a few inches over the bar.

Sassuolo responded with a high-intensity press across the whole pitch which made it hard for Napoli to gain momentum after Mertens' header. In the 71st minute, Sassuolo were again close to extending their lead. Francesco Caputo picked up the ball inside the box and produced a snapshot that smashed against the right post. But as it usually happens, you get punished for the close chances you do not convert. In the next play, Napoli made it 2-2. Lorenzo Insigne sprayed a pass out to Giovanni Di Lorenzo who had an easy job to slot the ball into an empty net.

Both teams turned on their attacking modes. Chance after chance in front of both goalkeepers. An incredible opportunity happened for Fabian Ruiz in the 76th minute as he tricked the defender inside the box and lashed a shot towards the bottom left corner, but Andrea Consigli made a brilliant reflex save to deny him. Pedro Obiang (Equatorial Guinea) and Hamad Traore (Ivory Coast) made their appearances in the last 10 minutes of the match. The 89th minutes brought us an incredible comeback of Napoli - It was a great strike from the penalty spot by Lorenzo Insigne, low into the left of the net, giving goalkeeper Andrea Consigli no chance. And just minutes after - another penalty! This time for the home team. Manolas pulled the jersey of one of the opposition players and Valerio Marini blew his whistle for a foul. Francesco Caputo put the ball into the right side of the goal past the outstretched arm of Alex Meret.

With point each, Napoli came from 6th to 5th and Sassuolo remained 8th on the Serie A table.

SERIE A - Round 25

Tuesday

Lazio - Torino postponed

Juventus - Spezia 3-0 (0-0)

/Morata 62, Chiesa 71, Ronaldo 89/

Wednesday

Sassuolo - Napoli 3-3 (2-1)

/Maksimovic 34' og, Berardi 45' p, Caputo 90+5' p - Zielinski 38', Di Lorenzo 72', Insigne 89' p/

22.45: Cagliari - Bologna

22.45: Atalanta - Crotone

22.45: Fiorentina - Roma

22.45: Genoa - Sampdoria

22.45: Milan - Udinese

22.45: Benevento - Hellas Verona

Thursday

22.45: Parma - Inter