Empoli and Napoli drew 2-2 at the Stadio Castellani on Sunday afternoon in Serie A, with the hosts playing a better first half and the Partenopei reacting in the second.
The game was immediately on fire, as Riccardo Saponara and Lorenzo Insigne scored in the first 10 minutes. Manuel Pucciarelli just before the break and Allan just after fixed the final result on 2-2, with Napoli trying to win in the final minutes and Empoli defending the point.
Saponara gave the hosts the lead after just one minute, firing home after a great Pucciarelli assist.
Empoli’s lead didn’t last long as Insigne equalised after just four minutes with a wonder goal: curling the ball in the top left corner.
After 18 minutes it was Empoli going up again, with the same two men creating the chance and scoring the goal: Saponara with the pass and Pucciarelli with the finish.
It was Insigne again who could equalise, wasting a one on one chance against keeper Lukasz Skorupski on 32 minutes.
Empoli played a great first half, with Saponara inspiring the striking duo Pucciarelli and Massimo Maccarone, and Napoli struggling to cope defensively, with Gonzalo Higuain not in his best form up front.
The second half started differently though, with Napoli scoring the 2-2 immediately, thanks to a chip from Allan following a great team play with Marek Hamsik and Manolo Gabbiadini.
On 58 minutes coach Maurizio Sarri brought on Jorginho for Mirko Valdifiori, and 6 minutes later Dries Mertens for Gabbiadini, while Napoli were playing better in the second half.
A Hamsik shot flew just inches away from the post on 63 minutes, as the Azzurri really were pushing for the whole three points.
Empoli coach Marco Giampaolo made his first substitution on 68 minutes, bringing on a fresh Marco Livaja for a tired Maccarone, and the ex Inter striker got booked after just two minutes.
Sarri brought on Jose Callejon for Insigne, while Giampaolo picked Leandro Paredes to replace Piotr Zielinski.
The final 15 minutes were nervous and confused, with Napoli trying slightly more than Empoli to win, but in the end having to accept a decent point.
