Series A
4:00 p.mMay 24, 2026
Regular season – 38
Stadium Diego Armando Maradona
Referee: Andrea Zanotti, Italy
Naples
Udinese
Turn off the spoiler to see match stats
1.81
Expected Goals (xG)
0.44
Passing by
647 (92%)
Accurate passes
266 (80%)
Turn off the spoiler to see the events of the match
1
G
Alex Meret
6.9
17
d
Mathias Olivera
7.2
13
d
Amir Rahmani
7.2
22
d
Giovanni Di Lorenzo (C)
7.2
3
M
Miguel Gutierrez
6.9
8
M
Scott McTominay
7.2
68
M
Stanislav Lobotka
6.9
21
M
Matteo Politano
7.0
27
F
Alison Santos
6.3
F
Rasmus Højlund
24′
20
F
Eljif Elmas
6.9
40
G
Maduka Okoye
7.0
33
M
Jordan Zemura
6.3
28
d
Oumar Solet
6.9
d
Christian Kabasele
64′ serious fault
31
d
Thomas Kristensen
6.2
19
M
Kingsley Ehizibue
6.6
14
F
Arthur Atta
6.7
M
Lennon Miller
90′ HoldingM
Jesper Karlström (C)
51′ Stumbled
24
F
Jakub Piotrowski
6.3
9
F
Keinan Davis
6.2
Serie A classification – Serie A
Qualification/Relegation
- Promotion – Champions League (League phase)
- Promotion – Europa League (League phase)
- Promotion – Conference League (ranking)
- Relegation – Serie B
Rasmus Højlund’s first-half goal was decisive as Napoli overcame Udinese 1-0 at the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona, with the visitors reduced to ten men in the second half.
Napoli dominated possession from the first whistle, controlling 67 percent of the ball against defensive Udinese. The home team’s offensive intent was clear at the start, with several chances created in the opening minutes. Udinese sat deep and compact, looking to hit on the counter-attack whenever possible. The tactical battle was set: Napoli’s attacking prowess against Udinese’s organized defence.
The breakthrough came in the 24th minute when Rasmus Højlund finished clinically after some good build-up play. The Danish forward showed composure in front of goal, converting his chance with precision. Højlund’s movement had been sharp throughout the match, and he made the most of Napoli’s early dominance. The goal gave the home side a deserved lead and swung the momentum firmly in their favour.
Napoli continued to push forward after taking the lead, creating further chances in midfield and attacking players. Højlund continued to be a constant threat, testing the Udinese backline with clever runs and positioning. However, the Udinese goalkeeper made several important saves to keep the deficit manageable. The visitors showed resilience despite being second best for much of the first half.
Half-time arrived with Napoli leading 1-0, having created the best chances and controlled the pace of the game. The home team had 6 shots on target compared to 3 for Udinese. Napoli’s passing accuracy stood at 92 percent, reflecting their control of proceedings. Udinese needed to find a way to break down Napoli’s defense in the second period.
In the second half, Napoli continued their dominance, although Udinese showed more attacking intent early on. A turning point came in the 64th minute when Cristian Kabasele received a red card for Udinese. The dismissal fundamentally changed the complexion of the game, leaving the visitors with a significant disadvantage. Napoli’s numerical advantage allowed them to push forward more aggressively.
With the man advantage, Napoli controlled the pace and limited Udinese’s attacking opportunities. The hosts handled the game expertly, avoiding any real scares at the back. Udinese’s task became increasingly difficult as fatigue set in during the latter stages. Despite their efforts, the visitors could not find an equaliser.
Udinese received three further yellow cards in the second half as frustration mounted. Jaka Karlstrom was booked in the 51st minute, followed by bookings for Andraz Sporar and Lautaro Miller. The build-up of cards reflected Udinese’s struggle to contain Napoli’s attacking play. The visitors finished the game with ten men and no goals.
Statistically, the superiority of Naples was evident at all times. They created an expected goals total of 1.81 compared to Udinese’s 0.44. The hosts completed 701 passes with 92 percent accuracy, dominating possession. Napoli’s defense also performed well, limiting Udinese to just 3 shots on goal throughout the game.
Højlund’s performance earned him a match rating of 8.5, with the striker completing both of his shots on goal. His movement and positioning caused problems for the Udinese defense all afternoon. Juan Jesús contributed defensively with 2 tackles in his 45 minutes of play. Napoli’s defensive unit, led by Amir Rrahmani and Giovanni Di Lorenzo, remained solid throughout.
The victory takes Naples to 76 points in second place with one game remaining. Udinese remain in tenth position with 50 points in their 38 games. Napoli’s form continues strong with their latest win in a string of positive results. The result makes the Serie A title race intriguing as the season draws to a close.
