Series A
5:00 p.mFebruary 28, 2026
Regular season – 27
Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium
Referee: Andrea Colombo, Italy
Hellas Verona
Naples
Turn off the spoiler to see match stats
0.46
Expected Goals (xG)
0.85
Passing by
248 (78%)
Accurate passes
519 (87%)
Turn off the spoiler to see the events of the match
1
G
Lorenzo Montipò (C)
6.3
5
d
Andrias Edmundsson
7.6
37
d
Armel Bella-Kotchap
6.9
15
d
Victor Nelson
6.5
12
M
Domagoj Bradarić
6.7
M
Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro
45+2′ Holding65′
63
M
Roberto Gagliardini
7.3
M
Abdou Harroui
82′ Holding
2
M
Daniel Oyegoke
6.9
9
F
Amin Sarr
6.6
18
F
Kieron Bowie
6.9
Serie A classification – Serie A
Qualification/Relegation
- Promotion – Champions League (League phase)
- Promotion – Europa League (League phase)
- Promotion – Conference League (ranking)
- Relegation – Serie B
Napoli grabbed a dramatic 2-1 win against Hellas Verona at the death, Romelu Lukaku scoring in stoppage time.
Napoli’s quest for a Champions League spot continued on Saturday afternoon at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi. They faced a Hellas Verona who were desperately fighting to distance themselves from the Serie A relegation zone. The stakes were high for both teams.
The visitors wasted no time in asserting their intent. Just two minutes into the game, Rasmus Højlund opened the scoring for Napoli. Antonio Vergara provided a pinpoint assist, setting up Højlund for a clinical finish. This first attack surprised the local public.
Verona, however, refused to buckle under the pressure. They showed resilience, trying to push forward despite Napoli’s dominant possession. The first half saw a physical battle, with Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro earning a yellow card just before the break for a holding foul.
As the teams went into the break, Napoli held a slim 1-0 lead. Verona needed a spark to reignite their challenge. Napoli, despite their lead, knew their one-goal cushion was fragile.
The second half brought renewed energy from Hellas Verona. Napoli made an early substitution in the 52nd minute, bringing on Leonardo Spinazzola. Verona responded with changes, introducing Abdou Sarr and Armel Bella-Kotchap soon after.
Verona’s persistence paid off in the 65th minute. Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro, making amends for his earlier booking, found the back of the net. His goal tied the score at 1-1, sparking hope among the home fans. The match turned into an intense, end-to-end match.
The game became more and more intense as both sides pressed for a winner. Several yellow cards were issued, highlighting the competitive nature of the match. Napoli introduced new legs, such as Romelu Lukaku, Stanislav Lobotka and Matteo Politano.
In a thrilling conclusion, Napoli’s offensive pressure finally broke Verona’s resistance. In stoppage time, at minute 90+6, substitute Romelu Lukaku delivered the decisive blow. He scored the winning goal, sending the Napoli bench into raptures. Lukaku was immediately booked for unsportsmanlike conduct during his celebration.
The stats reflected Napoli’s offensive efficiency, though not their overall dominance. They registered 5 shots on goal from a total of 8 attempts, compared to Verona’s 2 shots on goal from a total of 9. Napoli controlled 65% of the possession, but their expected goals (xG) stood at 0.85 to Verona’s 0.46.
This crucial 2-1 win cements Napoli’s position in the top three of Serie A. Hellas Verona will rue the missed opportunity to get a vital point at home. They will need to regroup quickly for the next few games.
