Parma 1-1 Napoli Player Ratings: Mctominay's Strike Secures A Point For Gli Azzurri As Parma Defend Their Fortress Valiantly

A pulsating Serie A encounter at the Stadio Ennio Tardini saw Parma and Napoli battle it out to a 1-1 stalemate. The home side stunned the visitors with a goal inside the first minute, as Gabriel Strefezza finished off a swift counter-attack, leaving Napoli with an uphill battle from the get-go.

Napoli dominated possession for large spells of the game; however, they found it incredibly difficult to break down a resolute and well-organized Parma defense. Gli Azzurri were probing constantly, but the final ball just wasn't there in the first half.

The game completely changed at the hour mark, when Scott McTominay, who had been a looming presence all game, finally found the back of the net to level the scores.

The final thirty minutes were a frantic affair, with both teams pushing for a winner in this gripping match, but ultimately, a draw felt like a fair reflection of the contest.

Check out the Parma vs Napoli Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Gabriel Strefezza's strike after 33 seconds is the second fastest goal conceded by Napoli in the Serie A since 2018.
• Mathías Olivera won the most duels in this match (10).
• Alessandro Buongiorno recorded the most interceptions (4).

Parma Player Ratings vs Napoli

Have a look at the Parma Player Ratings from the Parma vs Napoli Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Zion Suzuki - 7.0: What stood out to us were his crucial saves, particularly one from a fierce Kevin De Bruyne strike. He looked composed between the sticks and commanded his area well, claiming several high balls. His distribution was a little wayward, but his primary job of shot-stopping was performed admirably. He stood no chance with McTominay's goal.

Defenders

Lautaro Valenti - 7.5: An absolute wall at the back for Parma. We saw him throw his body on the line time and again, racking up an impressive three blocked shots. He was strong in the tackle and read the game exceptionally well to make three clearances. A commanding and mature performance against a top-quality attack.

Mariano Troilo - 7.0: A colossal defensive effort from the center-back. His ten clearances tell the story of a player who was in the right place at the right time throughout. He was a constant nuisance for Napoli's forwards, winning his duels and organizing the backline. A very solid showing.

Alessandro Circati - 6.0: Had a mixed game in our opinion. He made a number of important clearances and interceptions which helped his team. However, he was caught out a couple of times and received a yellow card for a rash challenge. A decent defensive shift but marred by a few sloppy moments.

Midfielders

Emanuele Valeri - 6.5: His work rate was immense, covering a lot of ground on the left flank. He was diligent in his defensive duties, winning three of his four tackles. Going forward, his final ball was sometimes lacking and he gave away possession a bit too easily for our liking. A tireless, if slightly unpolished, performance.

Enrico Delprato - 6.5: The captain put in a real shift in the middle of the park. He led by example with his battling spirit, recovering the ball six times. His passing was not always the most accurate, but his commitment to the cause was undeniable. A true captain's performance in terms of effort.

Mandela Keita - 7.0: A very composed and tidy display in the engine room. He kept possession well and showed great awareness to make three interceptions. He even forced a smart save from the Napoli keeper with a shot from distance. A really impressive and mature performance from the midfielder.

Adrián Bernabé - 6.0: He showed flashes of his quality but ultimately struggled to stamp his authority on the game. He was dispossessed a couple of times and his influence waned before he was substituted. Not a bad performance, but we expected more from him.

Hans Nicolussi Caviglia - 5.5: A really quiet game for the midfielder. He was largely anonymous and struggled to get involved in Parma's play. It was no surprise to see him substituted after making little impact on the proceedings. A forgettable outing for him.

Forwards

Gabriel Strefezza - 7.5: The hero for Parma with a wonderfully taken goal in the opening minute. His pace and direct running caused problems for the Napoli defense until his unfortunate injury. He was Parma's most potent attacking threat and his departure was a big blow.

Nesta Elphege - 6.5: Provided the clever headed assist for the opening goal. He was a physical presence up front, winning a number of aerial duels. However, he also lost his fair share and was caught offside. A decent contribution overall before being taken off.

Substitutes

Oliver Sørensen - 6.0: Came on and worked hard but couldn't find a decisive moment. Nahuel Estévez - 6.0: Added some fresh legs to the midfield battle. Christian Ordóñez - 6.0: Had one shot blocked but was otherwise quiet. Daniel Mikolajewski - N/A: Came on late and didn't have enough time to influence the match.

Manager

C. Antón Cuesta - 7.0: From our perspective, he got his tactics spot on. He set his team up to be defensively solid and hit Napoli on the break, which worked perfectly for the goal. His side fought for every ball and fully deserved their point.

Napoli Player Ratings vs Parma

Here are the Napoli Player Ratings from the Parma vs Napoli Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Vanja Milinković-Savić - 6.5: Had absolutely no chance with the early goal. He made a good save to deny Mandela Keita later in the game. Aside from that, he was largely a spectator as Parma sat deep. A quiet but efficient day at the office.

Defenders

Alessandro Buongiorno - 8.5: An absolute titan at the back and our man of the match. He was dominant in the air, winning seven of his nine aerial duels. His reading of the game was sublime, making four interceptions and seven clearances. With a 99% pass accuracy, he was flawless in possession. A truly world-class defensive display.

Juan Jesus - 6.0: A strange performance as he only played the first half. His passing was perfect, not misplacing a single one. However, he didn't offer much defensively and was withdrawn at halftime. A tidy but ultimately brief appearance.

Mathías Olivera - 8.0: A phenomenal performance on the left flank. He was everywhere, touching the ball 132 times and completing an incredible 109 passes. Defensively, he was solid winning most of his duels and making key recoveries. He was a constant outlet for his team.

Midfielders

Matteo Politano - 6.0: The captain was busy and involved, but lacked the cutting edge. He got into good positions and delivered several crosses but his final product was disappointing. We felt he was a bit wasteful in promising situations. An industrious but frustrating performance.

Leonardo Spinazzola - 7.0: A creative force for Napoli, creating three key passes for his teammates. He was a constant threat down the wing with his driving runs. His delivery was generally good, but sometimes he made the wrong decision. A solid and influential performance nonetheless.

Stanislav Lobotka - 7.5: The conductor of Napoli's orchestra in midfield. He dictated the tempo of the game with his intelligent passing and movement. He was also excellent defensively, making important tackles and interceptions. A class act who ran the show from deep.

Frank Anguissa - 5.5: A surprisingly subdued performance from the powerful midfielder. He lost the majority of his duels and was often careless in possession. It was not his day, and he was rightly substituted early in the second half. A very disappointing showing.

Forwards

Scott McTominay - 8.0: Napoli's savior on the day. He was a constant threat with his powerful runs from deep and took his goal with great composure. He was always looking to get on the scoresheet, and was deservedly the one to find the breakthrough. A fantastic all-around performance.

Kevin De Bruyne - 7.0: He was good, but not at his scintillating best. He created a few chances and forced a good save from the keeper. However, what stood out to us was a sense that he was slightly off his usual game, with his influence fading in and out. Still a threat, but we've seen better from him.

Rasmus Højlund - 6.5: He worked hard and linked up play well, providing the assist for McTominay's goal. However, he didn't offer much of a goal threat himself, with his shots being blocked. A decent but unspectacular performance from the young striker.

Substitutes

Alisson Santos - 6.5: Looked lively after coming on and tested the keeper. Giovane - 6.0: Didn't have much of an impact. Eljif Elmas - 5.5: Missed a glorious headed chance late on. Miguel Gutiérrez - 6.0: Provided a good cross for the Elmas chance.

Manager

A. Conte - 6.5: His team dominated the ball but lacked the ingenuity to break down a stubborn Parma defence for large parts of the game. He will be frustrated that his star-studded side couldn't find a winner and had to rely on a moment of individual brilliance to get a point.

Man of the Match

Alessandro Buongiorno was the man of the match in this Serie A game.

Worst Performer

Hans Nicolussi Caviglia was the worst of the lot from Parma vs Napoli.