FCA fall to a 1-0 defeat against Napoli after a goalless first half
Defeat in final game of Italy trip
The second game of FC Augsburg’s trip to Italy came just a day after their friendly against US Salernitana on Saturday. Coach Enrico Maaßen’s side fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Italian champions SSC Napoli after a goalless first half.
If the traditional football fan’s heart was already beating faster during the previous day’s friendly in Salerno, then it was to beat at an even faster rate during the clash against SSC Napoli. The game took place in Castel di Sangro, where Napoli had began their training camp. The town with a population of approximately 6,500 lies 805 metres above ground in the Abruzzi region and became known by die-hard football fans as a result of the local football team’s magical rise. ASD Castel di Sangro were sensationally promoted to Serie B in 1996 as a village side and managed to stay there for a season. The friendly was hosted at the Stadio Teofilo Patini, which with its official capacity of 7,200 has space for more people than there are residents in the village.
6,000 spectators, amongst which approximately 20 Augsburg fans were present, were admitted on this occasion and were able to follow the game at first hand, even though there were 12,000 ticket requests. They watched a lively game from the beginning in which both sides looked for a way forward. Napoli had the first chance of the game in the sixth minute. First, FCA’s goalkeeper Finn Dahmen made a save in a one-on-one situation before Arne Engels scraped the Italians’ follow-up off the line at the last moment. Moreover, Dahmen once again came out on top as a Napoli attacker once again found himself alone up against the goalkeeper in the 20th minute. However, FCA also had their own opportunities, yet Engels (inaccurate pass), Frederik Winther (header over the bar), Patrick Pfeiffer and Ermedin Demirović missed the target. Shortly before the half-time break, the Italian champions then went closer to finding the opening goal, yet two shots from range missed the target as both sides went into the break goalless.
Hosts find the winner in the second half
FCA didn’t make any substitutions during the half-time interval as the game continued to increase in intensity. However, SSC Napoli took their first chance to go ahead in the 62nd minute. Amir Rrahmani got his head on a corner whipped into the box and left Dahmen with no chance with his header placed just inside the far post. FCA toiled on in their search for chances as the game went on with tiredness levels increasing at the same time. Arne Maier struck the wall with a direct free-kick in the 75th minute, whilst both Sven Michel as well as Mergim Berisha, who had just been introduced, were unable to get a shot away in the following phase of play. It was Berisha’s first appearance since his ankle injury last season as he replaced Demirović.
Dahmen was once again able to show his class in the closing stages as he saved a close-range effort from SSC Napoli, yet ultimately the scoreline remained 1-0 to the Italian champions as FCA fell to a narrow defeat. On Monday, FCA will head back to Naples as they begin their journey back to Augsburg. Enrico Maaßen will proceed with the last week of preparation there before competitive football gets up and running in the DFB-Pokal at SpVgg Unterhaching on Sunday 13th August at 15:30 CEST.
Starting XI: Dahmen – Engels, Winther, Pfeiffer, Colina – Rexhbecaj, Breithaupt – Vargas, Maier – Michel, Demirović (74‘ Berisha)
Bench: Koubek, Stanić, Sarenren Bazee, Zehnter