Oh dear, the match between SSC Napoli and Union Berlin on November 8th, 2023, it was a real rollercoaster, wasn’t it? Both teams were fightin’ hard, and though it ended in a 1-1 draw, there was plenty to talk about. If ya ask me, both sides had their moments, but let’s take a closer look at how the players performed, shall we?
1. Napoli – Player Ratings
Now, Napoli, they came out strong, but Union Berlin wasn’t just gonna lay down for them, oh no. First up, let’s talk about the goalkeeper.
- Alex Meret (Goalkeeper) – 6/10: He didn’t have too much to do early on, but when it mattered, he had to make a couple of decent saves. That David Fofana goal though, that one slipped by him. Coulda done better, maybe.
- Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Right-back) – 7/10: Di Lorenzo, he worked hard down that right side. Defended well and pushed up when he could. Solid all around, but nothin’ too flashy.
- Kim Min-jae (Center-back) – 7/10: Oh, this fella, he’s a rock at the back. Did his job, kept Union Berlin’s attackers at bay most of the time. A few nervy moments, but overall, reliable.
- Amir Rrahmani (Center-back) – 6/10: Rrahmani had a few shaky passes, and Union Berlin nearly took advantage of ‘em. Still, he showed some good clearances when needed. Could’ve been better though.
- Mario Rui (Left-back) – 6/10: Mario Rui, he’s got energy, no doubt. Up and down that left side, but his crossing didn’t always hit the mark. Defensively, a bit too passive in places, I reckon.
- André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Midfield) – 8/10: Now, this one’s a real powerhouse in midfield. He made those important tackles, broke up play, and kept things ticking. Even had a shot or two on goal. Real dynamo.
- Piotr Zielinski (Midfield) – 7/10: Zielinski kept things steady in the middle. He’s got a good eye for a pass, and though he didn’t set the world alight, he kept Napoli moving forward.
- Mathias Olivera (Midfield) – 6/10: Olivera had a bit of a quiet game, didn’t really influence the play much. Maybe that’s ‘cause he was too busy helping out defensively.
- Hirving Lozano (Winger) – 5/10: Lozano was all over the place, but didn’t seem to have the cutting edge today. Lots of running, but not much end product. Couldn’t get past his man often enough.
- Victor Osimhen (Striker) – 7/10: Big man up front, he was dangerous. Had a header that went wide, but he always looks a threat. Got that physical presence, didn’t let Union Berlin’s defense rest for a second.
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Winger) – 8/10: Oh, Kvara, he was Napoli’s brightest spark. Scored a beauty, didn’t he? He’s always a joy to watch, dancing through defenders like it’s nothin’. He’s got that flair.
2. Union Berlin – Player Ratings
Now, Union Berlin, they were definitely not gonna let Napoli run away with it. They came out fighting, especially after a tough losing streak.
- Andreas Luthe (Goalkeeper) – 7/10: Luthe had some real work to do, especially in the second half. Made a few good saves, especially stopping Kvara’s shots. Kept Union Berlin in it when they needed him.
- Christopher Trimmel (Right-back) – 6/10: Trimmel had a decent game, but he couldn’t quite handle Kvaratskhelia on the wing. Still, he put in a good shift.
- Robin Knoche (Center-back) – 6/10: Knoche wasn’t exactly all over the place, but he did his job. Kept Osimhen in check for most of the game, but that goal from Kvara left him looking a little slow.
- Danilho Doekhi (Center-back) – 7/10: Doekhi was better, showed some real fight. Blocked a few shots and kept Napoli at bay for a while. Strong in the air too.
- Nico Giesselmann (Left-back) – 5/10: Giesselmann had a tough day, especially when Napoli came down the left. Didn’t offer much going forward either. Needs to step up next time.
- Julian Ryerson (Midfield) – 6/10: Ryerson worked hard, but he didn’t really stand out. Covered a lot of ground, but just didn’t have that cutting edge to make a difference.
- Rani Khedira (Midfield) – 6/10: Khedira was okay. Kept it simple in midfield, did some dirty work, but again, didn’t offer much in terms of creativity.
- Kevin Behrens (Midfield) – 7/10: Behrens had a solid performance. He helped connect play and did a decent job of keeping things ticking in midfield. Couldn’t quite get the ball to Fofana enough though.
- David Fofana (Forward) – 8/10: Oh, Fofana! He ended Union Berlin’s 12-match losing streak, didn’t he? Scored a lovely goal and really made things happen up front. A real handful for Napoli’s defense.
- Jordan Siebatcheu (Forward) – 5/10: Siebatcheu didn’t get much service, and when he did, he couldn’t do a whole lot with it. Quiet game for him.
- Jordi Mboula (Forward) – 6/10: Mboula showed some promise, but he didn’t manage to get past Napoli’s defenders often enough. Needs to be more decisive.
Conclusion: Well, in the end, a 1-1 draw is what we got. Napoli definitely had their chances, but Union Berlin fought hard, and that Fofana goal really kept ‘em in the game. Both teams had their good moments, but neither really came out as the clear winner. I reckon both teams will be lookin’ at this match and thinkin’ they could’ve done more. But hey, that’s football for ya!
Tags：[Napoli vs Union Berlin, player ratings, UEFA Champions League, Fofana, Kvaratskhelia, Osimhen, match report, November 2023]
