Napoli cruised into the last 16 of the Italian Cup with a resounding 5-0 victory over Palermo, who were reduced to 10 men after a red card in the second half.
Despite the dominance on the field, the match was overshadowed by disturbing scenes of fan violence during halftime, which caused a seven-minute delay in the second half.
Cyril Ngonge’s early brace set the tone for a comfortable win, with additional goals from Juan Jesus, David Neres, and Scott McTominay sealing Napoli’s progress.
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Napoli showcased their attacking prowess from the start, dominating the game from the first whistle. It took just a few minutes for Cyril Ngonge to break the deadlock, putting the hosts ahead early with a clinical finish.
Ngonge was in top form and quickly followed up with his second goal, leaving Palermo struggling to contain Napoli’s relentless attacking force.
The first half was a clear demonstration of Napoli’s superiority, and it was only a matter of time before they extended their lead.
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Just three minutes before halftime, Juan Jesus scored to make it 3-0, ensuring that Napoli went into the break with a comfortable cushion. Palermo, on the other hand, seemed out of ideas and offered little resistance to Napoli’s offensive dominance.
Napoli’s victory was never in doubt, especially after Palermo’s Aljosa Vasic was shown a straight red card in the 58th minute for a reckless high boot on Billy Gilmour.
Reduced to 10 men, Palermo’s fate was sealed, and Napoli capitalized on the numerical advantage. David Neres added a fourth goal before Scott McTominay completed the rout with his first goal for the club, moments after coming on as a substitute.
While Napoli’s performance on the field was flawless, the match was tainted by the ugly scenes that unfolded in the stands during halftime.
Rival fans clashed, throwing flares and firecrackers at each other, leading to a tense atmosphere in the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Security struggled to contain the situation, and the second half was delayed by seven minutes as authorities worked to restore order.
The violence wasn’t an isolated incident. This match was the latest in a series of fan disturbances that have marred Italian football in recent weeks.
Just the day before, the Genoa-Sampdoria derby was similarly disrupted by clashes between hardcore ultras before and after the game. Italian media have since reported that both Genoa and Sampdoria may face severe sanctions, including being forced to play their next two home matches behind closed doors.
The recurrence of these violent incidents has raised concerns among Italian football authorities, who are now under pressure to address fan violence more effectively.
While the passion of Italian football fans is legendary, the escalation of these clashes threatens to tarnish the reputation of the league and undermine the integrity of the game.
For Napoli, the 5-0 win over Palermo provided a much-needed boost ahead of their upcoming Serie A fixture against Monza on Sunday.
Manager Rudi Garcia opted to rotate his squad, resting key players while still delivering a dominant performance. The fact that Napoli managed to control the game so effectively, even with a rotated lineup, speaks volumes about the depth and quality of the squad.
Cyril Ngonge’s form in this match will have pleased Garcia, with the forward proving he can step up and deliver when called upon.
The same goes for David Neres and Scott McTominay, both of whom added goals to their tally and looked sharp throughout their time on the pitch. With several competitions on the horizon, Napoli will need this depth to challenge for silverware on multiple fronts.
