Napoli miss the chance to go top of Serie A after a damaging 1-0 defeat at Udinese, with Jurgen Ekkelenkamp scoring the decisive second half goal.
Napoli missed a major opportunity in the title race after suffering a shock 1-0 defeat away to Udinese. Earlier results had opened the door for Antonio Conte’s side to move top. Instead, they delivered a flat display at the Bluenergy Stadium. AC Milan’s draw with Sassuolo meant Napoli could have gone one point clear. Conte’s men failed to take advantage and ended the night frustrated. Jurgen Ekkelenkamp’s second half strike proved decisive.
Napoli began the game with early intent and created the first clear opening. In the 11th minute, Leonardo Spinazzola squared for Noa Lang. Nicolo Bertola made a vital block to deny a certain goal. That chance set the tone for Napoli’s afternoon. They struggled to turn possession into clear chances. Udinese grew in confidence as the game settled.
The hosts threatened soon after the break. Bertola’s long-range drive was parried into Keinan Davis’ path. The striker finished instinctively, but VAR ruled the goal out for offside.
Udinese continued to push Napoli backwards in the second half. Jakub Piotrowski struck the crossbar just before the hour mark. The home crowd sensed an opening.
Udinese briefly thought they had found relief. Nicolo Zaniolo finished well, but VAR intervened again. A foul on Stanislav Lobotka in the buildup saw the goal chalked off. The failure to heed these warnings proved costly for Conte’s side. Napoli failed to respond with urgency. Their composure faded as Udinese pressed higher.
The breakthrough arrived midway through the second half. Napoli failed to close down Ekkelenkamp on the edge of the box. His shot took a deflection and looped over Vanja Milinkovic Savic.
The goal stunned Napoli and lifted Udinese. Conte introduced attacking changes in search of a response. Clear chances remained scarce. Napoli’s best opportunity to salvage a point came late on. Rasmus Hojlund found space inside the box in the 88th minute. He clipped his effort over the bar from close range.
Napoli failed to register a single shot on target. It was their first league game without one since January 2024. That statistic summed up a worrying display. The defeat marked Napoli’s fourth loss in eight away league matches this season. They had not lost four of their first eight away games since 2009. It was also their first Serie A defeat to Udinese since April 2016. Udinese ended an 18-match winless run against Napoli in the competition. Their discipline and aggression were rewarded. Napoli lacked control when momentum shifted.
Ekkelenkamp was decisive when it mattered most. Piotrowski and Bertola also impressed with energy and commitment. Udinese matched Napoli physically and mentally. For Napoli, chances fell to the wrong players at the wrong moments. Lang and Hojlund will rue missed opportunities. Conte later admitted his side were too fearful in key phases.
Napoli turn to the SuperCoppa semifinals against AC Milan on Thursday December 18th. Conte’s side will return Serie A action against Cremonese on December 28th looking to respond quickly. They remain firmly in the title race but cannot afford more away slip ups. Conte will demand a sharper reaction. Udinese will continue their league campaign next weekend when they face Fiorentina. This result provides a major confidence boost as they will aim to build momentum from a memorable win.
