Napoli’s Serie A campaign got off to a dreadful start on Sunday with a heavy 3-0 defeat at the hands of Hellas Verona.
The reigning champions were left reeling not only from the loss but also from the injury of their star midfielder, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who was forced off the pitch after a clash with an opposing player.
Antonio Conte, making his league debut as Napoli’s manager after their triumphant 2023 season, had to make the difficult decision to substitute Kvaratskhelia just before halftime.
The Georgian midfielder, crucial to Napoli’s success, appeared visibly uncomfortable following the collision, signaling a potential blow to Conte’s plans for the match.
Napoli’s troubles deepened in the second half when Verona broke the deadlock just five minutes after the restart. Dailon Livramento capitalized on poor defending, slipping past Napoli’s backline to slot home a cross from close range, putting the hosts ahead.
As the game progressed, Napoli struggled to regain their footing, and their woes were compounded in the 75th minute.
Daniel Mosquera latched onto a perfectly timed through ball, finishing with composure to double Verona’s lead.
In the dying moments of the match, Verona sealed Napoli’s fate with a third goal. As Napoli’s defense crumbled, Mosquera was on hand again to tap in a close-range pass, completing his brace and securing a convincing win for Verona.
Napoli’s star striker, Victor Osimhen, remained sidelined as the team endured a humiliating opening day defeat against Verona.
The Nigerian forward has been excluded from Antonio Conte’s squad since expressing his desire to leave the club, a decision that aligns with the terms of his contract extension signed last December.
Conte’s stance was evident as Osimhen was left out of all preseason fixtures, a trend that continued in their first match of the season.
The defeat marked a concerning start to the season for Napoli, who will need to regroup quickly if they hope to defend their title.
