Napoli 1-0 Sassuolo Player Ratings: Stanislav Lobotka Grabs Winner in Competitive Serie A Clash

Napoli secured a narrow 1–0 victory over Sassuolo in a tense Serie A match. The game was decided by an early goal.

Napoli started the match with high intensity. They created several early chances through Rasmus Hojlund and Eljif Elmas. The breakthrough came in the 7th minute. Stanislav Lobotka scored with a well-placed finish to give the hosts the lead.

After conceding, Sassuolo responded well. Armand Laurienté caused problems with his attacking runs. The visitors pushed for an equaliser and forced several important saves from Vanja Milinković-Savić.

The second half was closely fought and physical. Napoli focused on defending their advantage. They remained disciplined until the final whistle.

The result earned Napoli three valuable points at home. Here are Sportsdunia's Napoli vs Sassuolo player ratings:

Key Takeaways

1. Stanislav Lobotka scored the winning goal in the 7th minute.
2. Sassuolo pressed for an equaliser and tested Vanja Milinković-Savić.
3. Napoli defended strongly to secure a 1–0 home victory.

Napoli Player Ratings vs Sassuolo

Here are Napoli player ratings from the match:

Goalkeeper

Vanja Milinković-Savić - 7.5: We noticed he was a commanding presence throughout the game. He made four crucial saves, including a few sharp stops to deny Sassuolo's attackers. His two good high claims instilled confidence in his backline. He was a key reason Napoli kept a clean sheet. A very strong and reassuring performance from the keeper.

Defenders

Juan Jesus - 6.0: A really mixed performance from Jesus. He made four important blocked shots which was vital. However, he also committed four fouls and lost six of his seven duels. From our perspective, he looked a bit on edge and was fortunate not to get into more trouble. An inconsistent day.

Amir Rrahmani - 6.5: He was having a solid game before his unfortunate injury. Rrahmani was strong in the air, winning three aerial duels and looked comfortable. He was a loss for the defense when he had to be substituted in the 67th minute. He did his job effectively while on the pitch.

Sam Beukema - 6.0: A relatively quiet evening for the defender before he was substituted. He was tidy in possession with an 87% pass accuracy. However, he wasn't heavily involved in the defensive action, winning only half of his duels. An average outing.

Midfielders

Scott McTominay - 7.5: What stood out to us was his sheer grit and determination. McTominay was an absolute warrior in the midfield, winning six of his nine duels and making five clearances. He was everywhere, breaking up play and providing a shield for the defense. While his shooting was a bit wayward, his defensive contribution was immense.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo - 6.5: The captain had a busy game but it was one of frustration for him. He got into good positions but his final product was lacking, with two shots off target. An error leading to a shot was a notable blemish on his performance. He battled hard but it wasn't his most polished display.

Leonardo Spinazzola - 7.0: A very composed and professional display from Spinazzola. He was defensively sound, winning five of his six duels and making four clearances. He also contributed offensively, creating two chances for his team. A reliable and steady performance on the left flank.

Stanislav Lobotka - 8.5: Simply outstanding and our Man of the Match. He scored the all-important winning goal with a fantastic strike. Beyond the goal, he completely ran the midfield, dictating the tempo with a stunning 96% pass completion rate. He was calm, composed, and utterly dominant. A masterclass performance.

Forwards

Rasmus Højlund - 5.0: A really difficult and isolated performance for the striker. We felt for him as he only had 21 touches throughout the entire match. He struggled to hold up the ball, losing possession nine times and winning just two duels. It was a day where nothing went right for him.

Eljif Elmas - 6.5: He looked very bright in the first half, forcing a good save from the goalkeeper. His energy was good and he was looking to make things happen. He seemed to fade slightly before being withdrawn with a knock just before the hour mark. A promising start that was cut short.

Antonio Vergara - 6.5: A performance with flashes of talent. Vergara created two chances and showed his quality with some of his crossing. However, he also lost possession 12 times which highlighted a bit of rawness in his game. A learning experience for the young attacker.

Substitutes

Matteo Politano - 6.5: Came on and added some energy, trying his luck with a couple of shots from distance. Noa Lang - 6.0: Didn't have enough time or see enough of the ball to make a real impact. Pasquale Mazzocchi - 7.0: Made a great impact, forcing a superb save with a powerful long-range effort. Alessandro Buongiorno - 6.5: Slotted into the defense seamlessly to help see out the victory.

Manager

C. Stellini - 7.0: His plan to start fast paid off perfectly with the early goal. His game management was spot on, making the right changes to protect the lead. Securing a 1-0 win like this shows good tactical awareness. A job well done.

Sassuolo Player Ratings vs Napoli

Let's check out Sassuolo player ratings from the Serie A game:

Goalkeeper

Arijanet Murić - 6.5: Couldn't be faulted for the goal, which was a great finish. He made three saves, a couple of which were very smart stops to keep Sassuolo in the contest. His distribution was a bit shaky at times, but he did his primary job well enough.

Defenders

Josh Doig - 6.0: He had a tough time, especially in the early stages as Napoli overloaded his side. He stuck to his task but struggled to contain the pressure. He was solid enough but it was a challenging night for him before his substitution.

Sebastian Walukiewicz - 7.0: We were impressed by his performance. Walukiewicz was strong, composed, and very comfortable on the ball with a 90% pass accuracy. He made four clearances and won the majority of his duels. A very solid showing at the heart of the defence.

Jay Idzes - 7.0: An excellent defensive reading of the game from Idzes. He made three interceptions and won 100% of his duels which is an incredible statistic. He was a rock for Sassuolo and barely put a foot wrong all evening. A top performance.

Tarik Muharemović - 7.0: Another solid piece of the Sassuolo backline. He was heavily involved, with 83 touches and five clearances. His passing was reliable, and he stood up well to the Napoli attack. A very dependable display.

Midfielders

Nemanja Matic - 6.5: The captain tried to orchestrate play from deep, showcasing his range of passing. He had a few attempts on goal but couldn't find the mark. From our perspective, he could have offered a bit more defensively, but he kept his team ticking over.

Luca Lipani - 6.5: A bundle of energy in the midfield. Lipani covered a lot of ground, recovered the ball seven times, and was not afraid to have a shot. His work rate was commendable, even if the final product wasn't always there. A tireless effort.

Aster Vranckx - 4.5: A really poor outing that disappointed us. He was a passenger for much of his time on the pitch, winning only two of his nine duels. He picked up a deserved yellow card and was rightly substituted early in the second half. A performance to forget.

Forwards

Alieu Fadera - 6.5: He looked threatening on the break and was a willing runner. Fadera won six duels and drew three fouls, showing how he battled for his team. However, his final ball and finishing let him down on a couple of occasions.

Armand Laurienté - 8.0: Without a doubt, Sassuolo's best player. He was electric. Laurienté created an incredible five chances and was a constant source of danger for the Napoli defence. If his teammates had been on his level, the outcome of this match could have been very different.

Andrea Pinamonti - 5.5: It was a frustrating night for the striker. He missed a big chance and found himself marshalled well by the Napoli defenders. He had three shots blocked, which sums up his evening. He just couldn't find the space to make his mark.

Substitutes

Edoardo Iannoni - 5.5: Came on and immediately got booked for a clumsy challenge. Woyo Coulibaly - 6.0: Provided some energy down the flank. Laurs Skjellerup - 6.0: Had one shot blocked. Walid Cheddira - N/A: Not on long enough to rate. Luca Moro - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

F. Grosso - 6.0: His team showed good character to respond after conceding an early goal. The tactical setup was decent, but they just lacked the clinical edge in the final third. His decision to take off Vranckx was the correct one. A spirited but ultimately fruitless effort.

Player of the Match

Stanislav Lobotka was the man of the match with a rating of 8.5/10.

Worst Performer

Aster Vranckx failed to produce anything significant.