… as Napoli go three matches without a win for the first time in 18 months
Napoli are seventh in Serie A after a goalless draw against Bologna on Sunday, as Victor Osimhen missed a penalty and Napoli were held to a goalless draw at Bologna in Serie A.
The current champions, now winless in three, have faltered in their defence of their title in the very early stages of the season and are now seven points off Inter Milan, who top the standings.
Bologna, meanwhile, find themselves two points behind Napoli, in 11th position.
The league champions once more looked a pale imitation of their 2022/23 side, but were handed a lifeline when a penalty was awarded for the ball striking the arm of falling defender Riccard Calafiori with 20 minutes to go, Eurosport reports.
Osimhen took the responsibility, but though he sent Lukasz Skorupski the wrong way from the spot, his effort was a good yard or so wide of the target.
The Nigerian striker also came closest in the first half when his 10th minute effort got the slightest of deflections off the Bologna goalkeeper before coming back off the post.
The result sees Napoli lying seventh in the table, seven points adrift of leaders Inter Milan. Bologna are a point behind Napoli in 11th.
Rudi Garcia had a poisoned chalice taking over from Luciano Spaletti and the pressure will only continue to mount on him.
The indomitable machine of last year is no more but he is certainly not being helped with his star players, as Osimhen has now failed to score in five games and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia looks far short of the form which saw him awarded Serie A’s Most Valuable Player last term.
Interestingly, they are not helped by the form of Inter, who have the knack at present of eking results out in difficult circumstances which the Neapolitan side had last season.
They face struggling Udinese at home on Wednesday before travelling to surprise high-fliers Lecce next weekend. The clouds around the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium will only grow thicker if they do not get positive results from these games.
