Udinese’s final match of the season ended in defeat, but that did not prevent them from finishing in tenth place. Kosta Runjaic’s side lost 0-1 to Napoli and played with a one-man disadvantage for 30 minutes. Udinese’s three-month long unbeaten streak came to an end.
The match got off to an exhilarating start, with Napoli on the attack in the first few minutes with a shot by Alisson Santos, who was played through by a good pass – but Maduka Okoye deflected it to the corner.
Around the fifteen-minute mark, Udinese fought back with a nice play involving Arthur Atta, Jesper Karlstrom and Keinan Davis; the Englishman took the shot, but a Napoli defender deflected it to the corner. The resulting corner kick led to another chance for the visitors: Karlstrom hit a volley from the edge of the box, but Alex Meret dove to save it.
Napoli then took the lead in the 24th minute with a vertical pass that found Rasmus Hojlund, who scored with a right-footed diagonal shot.
Davis and Atta then tried to level it from the left-side of the box, but the Frenchman’s effort was easily saved by Meret. The hosts appeared to be more dangerous, especially in behind, but did not have other major chances throughout the rest of the first half.
Napoli then took the lead in the 24th minute with a vertical pass that found Rasmus Hojlund, who scored with a right-footed diagonal shot.
Davis and Atta then tried to level it from the left-side of the box, but the Frenchman’s effort was easily saved by Meret. The hosts appeared to be more dangerous, especially in behind, but did not have other major chances throughout the rest of the first half.
The pace dropped in the second half and Napoli were in control, although the Udinese defence prevented them from being a threat. Runjaic’s men tried to create some attacking plays, but in the 65th minute Christian Kabasele was sent off, leaving his team down to 10 men. Now with one extra player, Napoli immediately tried to double their lead with Matteo Politano, who moved to the centre and took a shot, which however went high. Despite the red card, Udinese seemed to be more vigorous with 10 men and took the shots with Idrissa Gueye, both of which were deflected for the corner by the Napoli defence.
A close call 20 minutes from the end, when Hojlund broke into the box from the left side and played a cut-back to Scott McTominay, who from a good position shot over the crossbar. Five minutes later, the Scotsman tried again, driving through the middle of the pitch, but Okoye saved his low shot.
As the match was coming to an end, Udinese kept trying to find the equaliser. Lennon Miller found Atta with a long pass, who released his effort but was denied. During added time, Udinese got their last chance to equalise with a corner kick but failed to score.
The final whistle marked the end of Udinese’s season, confirming their tenth place in the league with a total of 50 points.
Napoli 1-0 Udinese (HT: 1-0)
Scorers: Hojlund 24
Scorers: Hojlund 24
Napoli (3-4-2-1): Meret (Contini 79); Di Lorenzo (cap.), Rrahmani, Olivera (Jesus 46); Politano (Mazzocchi 79), Lobotka (Gilmour 37), McTominay, Gutierrez; Elmas, Alisson Santos (De Bruyne 10); Hojlund.
Subs not used: Milinkovic-Savic, Giovane, Vergara, Beukema, Anguissa.
Coach:Conte
Coach:Conte
Udinese (3-4-2-1): Okoye; Kristensen (Bertola 59), Kabasele, Solet; Ehizibue, Karlstrom (cap.) (Buksa 59), Miller, Zemura (Mlacic 79); Piotrowski (Gueye 54), Atta; Davis (Zarraga 79).
Subs not used: Nunziante, Sava, Padelli, Bayo, Camara.
Coach: Runjaic
Coach: Runjaic
Referee: Zanotti
Assistants: Capaldo - Pascarella
Fourth official: Manganiello
VAR: Prontera
AVAR: Pairetto
Booked: Karlstrom 51, Buksa 81, Miller 90
Sent off: Kabasele 65
Added time: 3+3 minutes