{"id":4134,"date":"2024-11-11T03:15:40","date_gmt":"2024-11-11T03:15:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betwealthsuretips.com\/blog\/di-lorenzo-nobody-expected-napoli-to-do-this-well-after-12-rounds-and-big-games\/"},"modified":"2024-11-11T03:15:40","modified_gmt":"2024-11-11T03:15:40","slug":"di-lorenzo-nobody-expected-napoli-to-do-this-well-after-12-rounds-and-big-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betwealthsuretips.com\/blog\/di-lorenzo-nobody-expected-napoli-to-do-this-well-after-12-rounds-and-big-games\/","title":{"rendered":"Di Lorenzo: ‘Nobody expected Napoli to do this well ‘ after 12 rounds and big games"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"epaselect<\/picture><\/div>\n

epaselect epa11713682 Napoli\u0092s Scott McTominay (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the 1-0 lead during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Inter and Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan, Italy, 10 November 2024. EPA-EFE\/NICOLA MARFISI<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Giovanni Di Lorenzo insists \u2018nobody expected\u2019 Napoli to be top of the Serie A table after 12 rounds, especially after they emerged unbeaten away to Juventus, Milan and now Inter.<\/p>\n

The Partenopei had taken the lead at San Siro through Scott McTominay on a corner kick routine, but it was cancelled out by the Hakan Calhanoglu scorcher that bent back Alex Meret\u2019s glove.<\/p>\n

Both teams had the opportunities to win, Inter hitting the woodwork twice with Federico Dimarco and above all a Calhanoglu penalty, while Giovanni Simeone ballooned over from 12 yards with the last kick of the game.<\/p>\n

It proved enough for a 1-1 draw, which means Napoli go into the break for international duty as the sole Serie A leaders, albeit just one point in front of the group including Inter, Atalanta, Lazio and Fiorentina.<\/p>\n

The top six are all crammed into the space of two points, with Juventus just behind that cluster.<\/p>\n

Di Lorenzo hails Napoli revival<\/h2>\n
\"MILAN,
MILAN, ITALY \u2013 NOVEMBER 10: Romelu Lukaku of Napoli is challenged by Francesco Acerbi of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 10, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cNobody expected us to be in first place at this stage, but we are happy and must continue working to improve,\u201d Di Lorenzo told DAZN.<\/p>\n

They lost the opening game of the Serie A season away to Verona, then went on a remarkable run of victories interrupted only by a 0-0 draw away to Juventus and last week\u2019s surprise 3-0 home defeat to Atalanta.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re pleased to have finished this difficult run of fixtures ahead of everyone else. We\u2019ve improved in terms of maturity, as after that painful home defeat, we put in a great performance this evening,\u201d continued Di Lorenzo.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe emerged unbeaten away to Milan, Inter and Juventus. That is a sign of a strong squad and we are not even halfway through the season yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Napoli won the Scudetto in 2023, then had a painful crash back down to earth with 10th<\/sup> place and a succession of coaches coming through the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.<\/p>\n

Di Lorenzo famously asked to leave the club, as he felt disrespected in the role of captain, but was convinced to remain by Antonio Conte and President Aurelio De Laurentiis.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was not a good period personally, but what I tried to do was work my way through it. I am pleased with this start to the season, both for Napoli and Italy. Naturally, when the team is in good form, it becomes easier for the individual to emerge too.\u201d<\/p>\n