And in the end Napoli enjoys it! After 120 minutes and 18 penalties, the Italian Super Cup went to the Azzurri, victorious thanks to Rafael's save on Padoin. Right result? Difficult to say: it is no coincidence that the final sequence of penalties is called a "lottery". However, if we want to find meaning in a game crazier than ever, then it is right to underline how Napoli have never given up and have been able to catch the black and whites twice, the last time two minutes before the end of the second overtime. Tendency also confirmed during the penalties: Buffon served the Cup on a silver platter by saving shots from Mertens and Callejon (as well as that of Jorginho), Chiellini and Pereyra wasted badly. The sky of Doha was thus tinged with blue, to the delight of all the Neapolitan people. “We want to dedicate the victory to the fans – thought Benitez. – The whole team did well and deserves this title. For me it is the twelfth trophy as a coach but what matters is having given such a great joy to the city". On the cover, in addition to Rafa and De Laurentiis, Gonzalo Higuain and Rafael end up above all. The former literally dragged Napoli to a comeback that, at one point, seemed impossible with a splendid brace, the latter became a hero during the final penalties which will probably earn him a pass to the Neapolitan Olympus. “I am proud of this team – the words of Pipita. – This success is well deserved, if we always play like this we can aim high. There are still six months to go, we can have a great season."
So much joy on one side, so much disappointment on the other. Juventus abdicates the first title of the football year in a way that hurts, perhaps even more than the actual value of the trophy. “Sorry because we had three match points to close the story – the words of Massimiliano Allegri. – Conceding goals at the last minute is a pity, but this doesn't detract from our season: we are first in the league and in the round of 5 of the Champions League”. True, but losing always burns especially if you are Juventus, a team in which, Boniperti dixit, "winning is not important, it is the only thing that matters". And so the bianconeri go on vacation dragging a whole series of doubts along with them, the biggest one regarding the athletic strength of the group. In fact, the team has been tired for a few weeks and even yesterday, with a little more lucidity, the game would have been won. Going ahead twice (Tevez on 91' and 68') and letting yourself be caught up (Higuain on 118' and XNUMX') is a serious sin, which even becomes mortal if the same happens during penalties. Let's be clear, Juve's value is not affected in the slightest by this defeat, but some cracks are starting to show. Now Napoli has taken advantage of it, who knows tomorrow…
