Napoli's third consecutive Serie A stalemate — a marginally ruled-out McTominay goal — highlights scoring frustrations. Punters may prefer draw or under-2.5 goals markets over backing a high-scoring Napoli win; consider a Napoli draw/no-score double chance or value on McTominay anytime scorer given his threat.
Napoli Stalled Again as Tight Offside Call Erases McTominay Goal
Napoli were held to a frustrating 0-0 at home, their third straight Serie A draw, after a razor-thin offside wiped out Scott McTominay’s goal. With coach Antonio Conte suspended and a number of regulars unavailable, the Partenopei dominated possession but could not break down a resilient Parma side or the alert debutant goalkeeper who repeatedly kept the visitors in the game.
Key Moments
Napoli’s clearest opening came when Pasquale Mazzocchi — given a rare start — ran onto a Stanislav Lobotka through ball and the ensuing scramble saw Noa Lang spill a shot onto the upright before McTominay bundled the ball over the line. VAR intervened and the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside on Mazzocchi. Filippo Rinaldi, making his Serie A debut for Parma, twice produced outstanding saves, including one to keep out Alessandro Buongiorno’s powerful header and another to deny a Rasmus Hojlund effort from close range. Napoli’s persistent pressure produced more chances — David Neres’ return from injury created opportunities and Hojlund and Lang came close — but Parma defended stoutly and stayed disciplined.
Tactical Set-Up and Absences
Napoli were forced into selection reshuffles with Antonio Conte watching from the stands due to suspension and Juan Jesus also banned. Key players were missing through injury, leaving Napoli light in certain areas and prompting fresh starts for others. Parma reworked their formation with a three-man defence and handed goalkeeper Filippo Rinaldi a Serie A debut, which proved decisive.
Refereeing, VAR and Controversy
The defining moment of the match was a millimetre-tight offside decision checked by VAR that wiped out McTominay’s effort. Napoli had penalty appeals early in the second half waved away after replays suggested contact hit Alessandro Circati’s chest rather than an arm. These marginal decisions shaped the final outcome.
Match Statistics
Napoli dominated possession and territory across the 90 minutes but were unable to convert dominance into goals. Parma defended deep, absorbed pressure, and relied on quick, clinical interventions from their goalkeeper to preserve the clean sheet. The stalemate leaves Napoli still searching for cutting edge despite control of the ball.
Implications for the Title Race and Betting
The draw keeps Napoli short on momentum at a critical stage of the title race and underlines their vulnerability when key personnel are absent or suspended. For bettors, the game signals caution: Napoli’s inability to finish despite heavy possession makes low-scoring markets (under 2.5) and draw/no-score doubles attractive options. McTominay looks a consistent attacking threat, so anytime-scorer lines for him may offer value in future fixtures.
Substitutions and Late Developments
David Neres was introduced late but appeared short of full fitness and was withdrawn in stoppage time. Napoli’s bench options were used in search of a winner, while Parma’s set-up remained compact until the final whistle.
Bottom Line
Napoli controlled large parts of the match but lacked the final touch, with a marginal VAR decision proving pivotal. Parma leave Naples with a point and momentum from a disciplined away display, while Napoli must regroup and find sharper offensive solutions if they are to avoid more stalemates.
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Napoli were held to their third consecutive Serie A stalemate, as the tightest possible offside...
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