Napoli Crush Palermo 5-0 in Controversial Coppa Italia Clash Amid Fan Violence
Napoli defeated Palermo 5-0 in the Coppa Italia Round of 32, although the game was marred by violent altercations between the opposing fan bases.
With their impressive display at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Thursday, Napoli guaranteed their spot in the round of sixteen, where they will take on Lazio.
Napoli, which defeated 10-man Palermo 5-0 on Thursday despite unrest in the fans, advances to play Lazio in the Italian Cup semifinals. Napoli easily defeated the visiting team at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona thanks to an early brace from Cyril Ngonge. Three minutes before halftime, Juan Jesus secured the team’s advancement to the next round. In the 58th minute, Aljosa Vasic received a straight red card for a high boot on Billy Gilmour, making Palermo’s miserable evening even worse.
Twelve minutes later, the brilliant David Neres scored Napoli’s fourth goal, and seconds after Giacomo Raspadori was replaced, Scott McTominay scored his first goal for the team to complete the thrashing.
As Napoli rotated ahead of Sunday’s Serie A match against Monza, the evening should have been straightforward, but it became more challenging when opposing fans started hurling flares and firecrackers at one another during halftime.
Due to the most recent incident between supporters, which has marred this week’s cup ties with unrest, the second half was delayed by seven minutes.
Widespread altercations broke out between Genoa and Sampdoria’s die-hard supporters on Wednesday before and after their local derby, which Samp won on penalties.
Several injuries on a tense evening in the Italian port city may force Genoa and Samp to play their next two home games behind closed doors, according to Italian media.
Earlier this month, there were also altercations between Napoli and Cagliari supporters in Sardinia.
