CHAPTER 160: CHAPTER 155: NAPOLI VS ATALANTA VI

62’ |

When play resumed at the 62nd minute from the free kick Atalanta worked the ball patiently across their backline, and Demien stood in his usual position between the lines while Anguissa tracked him from several yards away.

But this time when Tolói prepared to pass the ball forward Demien didn’t wait in place—he drifted five yards to his right away from Anguissa before the pass was even played, and the movement was subtle but deliberate.

Tolói saw the space opening and played the ball into it, and when Demien received he had two yards of separation from Anguissa who was still recovering from tracking the initial movement.

His first touch was clean and he turned forward immediately, and suddenly the pitch opened up in front of him because Napoli’s midfield line had pushed high while their defense held a line near the halfway mark.

Lookman made a run down the left channel behind Di Lorenzo who was caught slightly square, and Højlund checked short to the edge of the box dragging Rrahmani with him, and in that moment Demien saw the gap—a corridor of space between Napoli’s right center-back and their defensive midfielder Lobotka who had drifted too far left.

He drove forward three steps with the ball at his feet while Anguissa recovered and sprinted to close him down from behind, and Zielinski slid across from the right to cut off the passing lane to Lookman.

Demien’s mind processed the situation in real-time through Özil’s Eye-of-Needle—showing him exactly where the space would collapse and where it still existed—and instead of forcing the pass to Lookman he shifted the ball onto his left foot with a quick touch.

The change of direction bought him half a second as Anguissa’s momentum carried him slightly wide, and Demien struck a through ball with his left foot that split the gap between Rrahmani and Lobotka with perfect weight.

The ball rolled into the channel behind Napoli’s defensive line where Malinovskyi had timed his run perfectly from the right wing, and the Ukrainian burst into the penalty area with only Meret to beat as the stadium’s noise shifted from celebration to concern.

Malinovskyi took one touch to control as Meret rushed off his line to narrow the angle, and Kim Min-jae recovered with desperate speed from the far side while sliding across to provide cover.

The Ukrainian’s shot came quickly—right foot aimed toward the near post—but Kim Min-jae threw his body in the way and the ball deflected off his outstretched leg before spinning harmlessly wide for a corner.

The away section erupted with appreciation for the chance even though it didn’t result in a goal, and their chants of "Forza Atalanta!" competed briefly against the home crowd’s relieved whistles.

Commentary Booth

"What a pass from Walter!" Caressa’s voice rose with surprise. "That’s the quality Gasperini’s been waiting for! Split Napoli’s defense completely and Malinovskyi should’ve scored!"

"Brilliant defending from Kim Min-jae to block it," Bergomi responded. "But look at Walter’s movement before that pass—he checked away from Anguissa, created space, then had the vision and technique to find that corridor. That’s elite playmaking."

Touchline

Gasperini saw it immediately and his reaction was instant—one hard clap with his hands that echoed across the technical area, and he pointed at Demien while shouting.

"SÌ! COSÌ! LIKE THAT!"

His assistant made quick notes on the tablet while Gasperini turned to the bench and waved Pasalic off, and the Croatian midfielder sat back down because the substitution was no longer needed.

On the pitch Demien jogged toward the corner flag while his chest felt lighter than it had all match because finally—finally—he could breathe, and the movement had worked exactly as Gasperini instructed.

67’ |

The breakthrough started in the 67th minute when Musso’s goal kick found Tolói near the halfway line, and the Brazilian center-back controlled it before immediately looking for options as Napoli’s press engaged.

Demien had positioned himself between Napoli’s midfield and defensive lines again, though this time instead of waiting centrally he drifted toward the right touchline where Anguissa tracked him cautiously after the earlier warning.

Tolói’s pass came diagonal toward the channel and Demien moved to meet it, his body angled so he could receive facing infield, and as the ball arrived Anguissa closed the distance expecting another attempt to turn.

But Demien’s first touch took the ball further right toward the touchline rather than inside, and the movement pulled Anguissa with him because the Cameroonian midfielder couldn’t risk leaving that space undefended.

Two touches later Demien had dragged his marker fifteen yards wide of the central zone, and that’s when he saw it—Koopmeiners had drifted into the pocket Anguissa vacated, and Lookman was making a run from the left wing toward the penalty area as Napoli’s defensive shape shifted to compensate.

Demien executed his Curve Run Timing perfectly as he accelerated inside with the ball, his body arcing back toward the center while Anguissa scrambled to recover, though the angle of approach made interception difficult without fouling.

De Roon had pushed forward to support and received Demien’s quick layoff just outside the penalty area, and the Dutch midfielder’s first touch set the ball before he struck it with his right foot.

The shot flew toward goal with power though not placement, and Meret parried it strongly to his right where the rebound fell perfectly for Malinovskyi who had continued his run from the opposite flank.

The Ukrainian winger took one touch to control as Di Lorenzo slid desperately toward him, and his left foot struck the ball low across the face of goal where it rolled along the six-yard line.

Højlund attacked it from the near post but Kim Min-jae blocked his path, though behind them both Lookman had continued his run unmarked and his right foot side-footed the ball into the empty net from four yards.

GOAL! NAPOLI 3-1 ATALANTA

67’ - Ademola Lookman

The away section—two thousand Atalanta supporters packed into the corner—exploded with noise that competed against the sudden silence from fifty-three thousand home fans, and Lookman sprinted toward them with his arms wide while his teammates chased him down.

Commentary Booth

"GOOOOOL! ATALANTA! LOOKMAN!" Caressa’s voice cut through the stadium shift. "They pull one back! Brilliant buildup from Walter dragging his marker out of position, De Roon with the shot, and Lookman with the finish!"

"That’s smart movement from the eighteen-year-old," Bergomi added. "He recognized where the space was and exploited it. Napoli’s defensive shape collapsed because Anguissa got pulled too far wide. Quality attacking play."

Demien stood near the center circle breathing hard while his teammates celebrated, and he didn’t run toward the corner because his legs felt heavy and adrenaline was spiking through his system in waves that made his hands shake slightly.

Højlund jogged past and slapped his shoulder hard enough to rock him forward.

"Keep going! We’re not done!"

Touchline

Gasperini’s reaction was immediate and urgent—both arms raised high as he shouted toward his bench.

"Muriel! Zapata! Start warming up NOW!"

His assistant was already pulling the substitution board from its holder while players on the bench scrambled to their feet, and Gasperini turned back toward the pitch with his hands cupped around his mouth.

"PUSH HIGHER!PRESS THEM! DON’T SIT BACK!"

The Napoli fans who had been celebrating moments earlier now shifted to nervous energy as their team reset for kickoff, and scattered boos rained down toward their own players from sections that expected dominance to continue.

Spalletti stood in his technical area gesturing for calm while shouting instructions about maintaining defensive shape, though his expression showed concern because momentum was shifting visibly.

69’ - 73’ |

Napoli kicked off at the 69th minute and tried to reassert control through patient possession, though Atalanta pressed higher than they had all match because Gasperini’s instructions from the touchline were clear and aggressive.

Lobotka received from Kim Min-jae at the 70th minute and immediately felt pressure from Koopmeiners closing quickly, and his pass toward Zielinski was rushed enough that it lacked accuracy.

De Roon intercepted it cleanly before driving forward as Atalanta transitioned, and the stadium noise shifted again—away section singing, home crowd whistling urgently.

His pass found Demien who had checked into space centrally, and this time when Anguissa closed him down Demien’s first touch was clean enough to turn past the challenge before the contact arrived.

He drove three steps forward as the pitch opened and spotted Malinovskyi making a diagonal run from right to left across Napoli’s defensive line, though the pass he attempted was overhit and rolled out for a goal kick.

The sequence drew frustrated groans from the away section though scattered applause acknowledged the intent, because suddenly Atalanta looked dangerous rather than desperate.

Commentary Booth

"Atalanta’s energy has changed completely," Caressa observed. "That goal has given them belief and you can see it in their movement. Higher press, quicker transitions, more runners in the box."

"Napoli need to weather this storm," Bergomi responded. "The next ten minutes are crucial. Let Atalanta exhaust themselves chasing the game or concede again and suddenly it’s a real match."

Touchline

Gasperini made his move at the 71st minute as the fourth official raised the substitution board.

OUT: Ruslan Malinovskyi, Ademola Lookman

IN: Luis Muriel, Duván Zapata

The changes were aggressive—two attacking players replacing the goalscorer and the right winger—and the tactical shift was immediate as Atalanta moved to a 3-5-2 formation with both strikers operating centrally.

Spalletti responded immediately by calling Politano to the touchline for urgent instructions, and the Italian winger jogged back onto the pitch before relaying messages to his teammates about dropping deeper and protecting the defensive line.