Bari 1-2 Napoli
Lavezzi 28, 57 (N), Almiron 75 (B)
Stadio San Nicola
A brace of Ezequiel Lavezzi stunners sank Bari at the Stadio San Nicola to get Napoli back on track.
Both sides were decimated going into this Derby del Sud. The home team missed Vitali Kutuzov, Emmanuel Rivas, Mariano Donda, Andrea Ranocchia, Antonio Langella, Riccardo Meggiorini, Marco Pisano and Andrea Sestu. Napoli’s Christian Maggio stayed behind with the banned trio of Fabio Quagliarella, Paolo Cannavaro and Salvatore Aronica. The visitors needed a boost after their 3-2 home loss to Parma.
Bari’s last win here was 2-0 in January 1998, but their total record at the San Nicola was of 11 victories, 13 draws and just nine defeats in all competition.
Nacho Castillo just failed to make contact with Riccardo Allegretti’s free kick across the face of goal.
German Denis should’ve given Napoli the lead after 13 minutes, but he horribly scuffed his angled drive from Ezequiel Lavezzi’s assist straight at Jean-Francois Gillet. Juan Zuniga also blasted over from a tight angle.
Napoli took the lead thanks to an absolute screamer from Lavezzi. He controlled outside the box and swung an unstoppable shot into the near top corner past Gillet’s outstretched hand.
Morgan De Sanctis had to rush off his line to anticipate Paulo Barreto after Hugo Campagnaro’s poor backpass on the stroke of half-time. His defence wasn’t helping him, as the Napoli goalkeeper needed the same to stop Castillo pouncing on a Leandro Rinaudo error.
After the restart De Sanctis again smothered an Allegretti strike and Napoli proved far more clinical with their chances.
Lavezzi gathered on the edge of the box and smacked another brilliant right-foot strike under the bar that Gillet could do precious little about, having pounced on Bonucci’s error.
Bari weren’t dead yet and put the result back in doubt 15 minutes from time. Sergio Almiron rose for a glancing header on an Alvarez cross that left De Sanctis stranded.
Moments later Sforzini just failed to get his toe to a low cross that flashed along the six-yard box, then as the move continued Masiello’s shot was charged down.
Michele Pazienza tried to play on after apparently fracturing his nose, but eventually had to leave the field.
Bari: Gillet; Belmonte, A Masiello, Bonucci, Parisi; Alvarez, Gazzi, De Vezze (Almiron 58), Allegretti (S Masiello 70); Barreto, Castillo (Sforzini 59)
Napoli: De Sanctis; Santacroce, Rinaudo, Grava; Campagnaro, Pazienza (Bogliacino 79), Gargano, Zuniga; Lavezzi, Hamsik; Denis (Dossena 84)
Ref: Bergonzi