Napoli 2-2 Hellas Verona Player Ratings: Di Lorenzo's Late Equaliser Saves Hosts in Serie A Drama

Hellas Verona entered the game on the back of an unpleasant record as they lost the last eight Serie A games to the reigning Italian champions. Under boss Paolo Zanetti, Verona are keen to turn the tables this time. The commitment was visible from the very first minute as Hellas Verona made a flying start to the away fixture at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Danish midfielder Martin Frese gave Hellas Verona the breakthrough early in the first half, while Nigerian star Gift Orban made it 2-0 for the visiting unit by scoring a penalty following a handball by Alessandro Buongiorno.

Hellas Verona looked solid in defence after securing the two-goal lead as Napoli found it difficult to break into the final third. In the 43rd minute, McTominay pulled off an exceptional attempt that looked destined for the goal but his shot was ultimately blocked by Verona side back Unai Nunez.

Despite making some promising runs, Napoli were unable to reduce the deficit before the first-half whistle as the score remained 2-0 in favour of the away team.

SSC Napoli bounced back brilliantly in the second half, with Scott McTominay sparking hopes for a comeback, scoring from a cross by Noa Lang. Hellas Verona appeared more interested in holding the lead rather than pushing for the third, as pressure kept mounting on their defence.

In the 72nd minute, Rasmus Hojlund had almost scored the leveler for Napoli, but his goal was disallowed for a foul on a Verona defender. Giovanni Di Lorenzo finally struck the equaliser for SSC Napoli, with the hosts crawling back into the contest.

Despite a stoppage time of seven minutes, no team was able to find the winner as the Napoli vs Hellas Verona game ended in a 2-2 draw. After dropping points in the crucial home fixture, Napoli FC remain third in the Serie A 2025-26 standings, following Inter and AC Milan.
Here are Sportsdunia's Napoli vs Hellas Verona Player Ratings from the Serie A game:

Key Takeaways:

1. Martin Frese scored the opener to give Hellas Verona an early lead.
2. Hellas Verona was awarded a penalty in the 27th minute following a handball by Buongiorno.
3. Gift Orban converted the penalty to make it 2-0 for the visitors.
4. Napoli came roaring back in the second half, with McTominay reducing the deficit and Giovanni Di Lorenzo scoring the equaliser.

Napoli Player Ratings vs Hellas Verona

Check out Napoli Player Ratings from SSC Napoli vs Verona Serie A clash:

Goalkeeper

Vanja Milinković-Savić - 6.0: A difficult day at the office for the keeper. He was beaten twice in the first half. He couldn't do much about the penalty, but maybe could have been positioned better for the first goal. Made a couple of important saves in the first half to prevent further damage. Still, conceding two at home is never a great look.

Defenders

Giovanni Di Lorenzo - 8.5: What a performance from the captain. He was the driving force behind the comeback. He scored the crucial equalizing goal with a composed finish. Throughout the match, he was a threat going forward, creating two big chances. Defensively solid, winning most of his duels. Truly a Man of the Match display.

Amir Rrahmani - 6.5: A very busy evening for the center-back. He had an incredible 143 touches, showing his involvement. He was solid in the air and made some crucial clearances. However, he was part of a defense that looked all at sea in the first half. He recovered well as the game went on.

Alessandro Buongiorno - 5.5: This was a day to forget for Buongiorno. The handball that led to Verona's penalty was a clumsy and decisive error. It put his team in a massive hole. While his passing stats look good on paper, that single moment overshadowed his entire performance. He looked shaky after that.

Midfielders

Miguel Gutiérrez - 6.0: A brief and ineffective outing. He was hooked after just 55 minutes. He was tidy in possession but offered very little penetration. Part of a midfield that was completely overrun in the first half. The substitution was not a surprise to us.

Stanislav Lobotka - 7.0: The metronome in Napoli's midfield. He kept the ball moving with an immense number of passes. He worked tirelessly to win the ball back, recording eight recoveries. Drew several fouls to relieve pressure. A very solid and dependable performance, even when his team was struggling.

Scott McTominay - 7.5: His goal was the spark that ignited the comeback. A powerful header from a corner gave his team hope. He was a physical force in the middle, winning plenty of aerial duels. He contributed defensively and got forward well. A classic all-action display from the Scotsman.

Matteo Politano - 6.0: A frustrating night for the winger. He delivered ten crosses but only one was successful. From our perspective, he was trying to make things happen but his final ball was consistently lacking. He lost possession far too many times and failed to leave his mark on the game.

Forwards

Rasmus Højlund - 7.0: An incredibly eventful and unlucky match for the striker. He had a goal correctly disallowed by VAR which would have been the equalizer. He also missed a big chance he should have buried. Despite the misfortune, he created three chances for others and his work rate was excellent.

Eljif Elmas - 6.0: Had a big chance to score in the first half but was denied. He was energetic and made some good runs. However, his influence waned and he was substituted just after the hour mark. A decent but ultimately unproductive performance.

Noa Lang - 7.0: Looked like one of Napoli's most dangerous players. He was lively on the ball and created two good chances. He delivered the cross for the disallowed goal. A constant threat with his dribbling and movement before being substituted.

Substitutes

Luca Marianucci - 7.5: Made a massive impact off the bench. He provided the crucial assist for Di Lorenzo's equalizer. Changed the game with his energy and directness. An excellent cameo.

Manager

A. Conte - 6.5: His team's first-half performance was abysmal. They were tactically outclassed. However, he deserves immense credit for the turnaround. Whatever he said at halftime worked wonders. His substitutions, particularly Marianucci, were spot on and helped rescue a point from the jaws of defeat.

Hellas Verona Player Ratings vs Napoli

Let's take a look at Hellas Verona Player Ratings from Napoli vs Hellas Verona fixture:

Goalkeeper

Lorenzo Montipò - 6.5: He couldn't do much about either of Napoli's goals. Made two important saves, including a good one to deny Elmas early on. Commanded his box reasonably well under immense second-half pressure. A respectable performance.

Defenders

Unai Núñez - 7.0: A very strong defensive display. He was a warrior at the back, making seven clearances and blocking two shots. He read the game well with two interceptions. Stood tall for most of the match but was eventually overwhelmed by the relentless Napoli attacks.

Nicolás Valentini - 6.5: A busy night for the defender. He was excellent in terms of ball recovery and made seven clearances. However, he struggled in his duels at times. His distribution was also a bit hit-and-miss. A committed but slightly flawed performance.

Armel Bella-Kotchap - 6.0: Racked up an impressive nine clearances. He was a physical presence but was also rash at times, earning a yellow card. He struggled to contain Napoli's attackers as the game wore on. A mixed bag of a performance.

Midfielders

Martin Frese - 7.5: Excellent performance from the midfielder. He scored the opening goal with a smart finish. He was combative, winning his tackles and contributing effectively at both ends of the pitch. A standout player for the visitors.

Domagoj Bradarić - 6.0: A difficult evening for him. He picked up a yellow card for a cynical foul. He was defensively diligent but offered little going forward. Substituted in the second half as Verona tried to hang on.

Antoine Bernede - 7.5: What stood out to us was his all-around excellence. He was everywhere in midfield. He created three chances, including a big one. He also made a staggering six tackles. A truly dominant midfield display that deserved a win.

Cheikh Niasse - 7.0: Provided a wonderful assist for the opening goal. He was very tidy in possession and solid defensively. His interceptions were timely. His influence was crucial in Verona's fantastic first-half display before he was substituted.

Roberto Gagliardini - 7.0: A classic Gagliardini performance. He was a disruptive force in the middle of the park. He made three tackles and three interceptions. He battled hard and frustrated Napoli's midfield for large periods of the match.

Forwards

Amin Sarr - 5.0: A really tough day for the forward. He was completely isolated and ineffective. He lost 13 of his 17 duels, which is a shocking statistic. He struggled to hold up the ball or link play. It was no surprise to see him substituted.

Gift Orban - 7.6: A livewire up front for Verona. He coolly dispatched his penalty to double the lead. He was a constant threat with his shooting, forcing saves from the keeper. His pace and movement caused Napoli's backline all sorts of problems until his late substitution.

Substitutes

Giovane - 6.0: Came on for Sarr and provided more energy but couldn't find a decisive moment. He set up one chance for Orban.

Manager

P. Zanetti - 7.0: His team was brilliantly set up. The game plan for the first half worked to perfection, stunning the hosts. His side defended with heart and discipline. He will be bitterly disappointed to throw away a two-goal lead, but a point away at Napoli is always a good result.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match goes to Giovanni Di Lorenzo of SSC Napoli, with an 8.5/10 rating.

Worst Performer

Amin Sarr of Hellas Verona failed to make any impact and had a 5/10 rating.