Serie A leaders Napoli solidified their place at the top of the table with a gritty 1-0 win over Empoli at the Stadio Carlo Castellani. The tightly contested match was ultimately decided by a late penalty from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, as the visitors struggled to overcome a resilient Empoli defense.
Empoli, who came into the game unbeaten this season, started the brighter of the two sides. They created several promising chances early on, with Sebastiano Esposito firing a powerful volley that forced a sharp save from former Empoli goalkeeper Elia Caprile. Giuseppe Pezzella also tested Caprile, but the Napoli shot-stopper stood firm.
Napoli, without key players Stanislav Lobotka and Alex Meret, handed Billy Gilmour his first Serie A start, partnering him in midfield with Scott McTominay. Despite missing some important players, the visitors found opportunities of their own, including a dangerous header from Alessandro Buongiorno that was cleared off the line and a low drive from Esposito that Caprile expertly denied.
The deadlock was finally broken late in the match when substitute Giovanni Simeone made an immediate impact, winning a penalty after Tino Anjorin fouled Matteo Politano inside the box. Kvaratskhelia stepped up and coolly converted the spot-kick, giving Napoli the crucial advantage.
Scott McTominay came close to adding a second goal for Napoli, but Empoli’s steadfast defense kept the leaders at bay. Despite their dominance in possession, Napoli had to settle for a narrow win, with Kvaratskhelia’s penalty proving decisive. The victory ensured that Napoli stayed at the summit of Serie A, continuing their strong start to the season.
