Napoli were looking to progress to the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia when they hosted Atalanta at the Stadio San Paolo in Naples on Wednesday.
Rafael Benitez's side went behind as early as the 14th minute, but made a comeback to win the last-16 clash 3-1, thanks largely to a controversial goal from Lorenzo Insigne.
Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by minute live commentary below.
7.32pmHello and welcome to Sports Mole’s live coverage of the Coppa Italia clash between Napoli and Atalanta. This is a last-16 tie at the the Stadio San Paolo in Naples and you can follow all the action live as it unfolds with our live commentary on this page.
7.34pmNapoli will head into the contest as firm favourites to progress to the quarter-finals of the competition. Not only as they are at home, but Rafael Benitez’s side are also one of the strongest in Italy.
7.36pmHowever, Atalanta do have the ability and indeed the intent to spring a surprise in Naples tonight. So Napoli cannot be complacent as this will be a very competitive contest.
7.38pmOkay then, without much ado, let’s look at the lineups. The teamsheet is out and I will type in the names shortly, but I can tell you now for sure that Marek Hamsik is only on the bench for Napoli.
7.40pmNAPOLI XI: Rafael; Maggio, Albiol, Britos, Reveillere; Inler, Radosevic; Insigne, Pandev, Callejon; Zapata
7.41pmATALANTA XI: Polito; Nica, Yepes, Benalouane, Del Grosso; Giorgi, Baselli, Cazzola, Kone; De Luca, Livaja
7.43pmSo Napoli coach Benitez hands starts to his squad players Duvan Zapata, Anthony Reveillere and Josip Radosevic, although Lorenzo Insigne, Goran Pandev and Jose Maria Callejon all are in the lineup. Christian Maggio and Raul Albiol also start for the Azzurri.
7.44pmMeanwhile, visitors Atalanta are without Cristian Raimondi, Michele Canini and former Napoli striker German Denis in their lineup. Marko Livaja, who is actually owned by Inter Milan, will spearhead their attack.
7.46pmThere are reports emanating from the Italian press that Manchester United manager David Moyes in at the San Paolo tonight. The Scot attended the Serie A clash between Cagliari and Juventus at the weekend, but insisted that he is on a holiday in Italy. Is watching a match in Naples part of his holiday as well?
7.48pmI will get you the confirmation once the game kicks off. If Moyes is indeed at the stands, then his face will surely crop up on one of several cameras!
7.50pmAnyway, let’s focus on our match at hand. As I mentioned earlier in our build-up, Napoli will be favourites to win this tie. The Neapolitan outfit are indeed a very strong side and even without the likes of Gonzalo Higuain, Marek Hamsik and Dries Mertens in their lineup, they are very formidable indeed.
7.52pmAtalanta are not particularly a bad side. They are five points above the Serie A relegation zone in 13th and are coming into this contest on the back of a 2-1 home win against Catania.
7.54pmAtalanta got the better of fellow Serie A club Sassuolo 2-0 in the last round, but they will need to step up their game tonight. They do have the potential to do that and the hosts need to be careful about slipping up.
7.56pmThe two sets of players are getting ready to come out on the pitch as kickoff is just around four minutes away.
7.58pmThe two sets of players are out on the pitch as pre-match formalities are taking place.
8.02pmThe pre-match formalities are out of the way now and the match is about to kick off.
1 minKICKOFF Atalanta kick off proceedings at the Stadio San Paolo. The visitors are in dark blue, while the hosts are in their usual light blue.
1 minINJURY Clash between Riccardo Cazzola and Christian Maggio after just 30 seconds. No malice intended from either player, but the Napoli wingback is down with pain.
2 minNapoli’s Pablo Armero has already started to warm up on the touchline, but he won’t be needed now as Maggio is back on his feet and back on the pitch after receiving medical treatment.
5 minCHANCE! First chance of the match for Jose Callejon as he almost gets on the end of a pass from Goran Pandev inside the Atalanta box, but Ciro Polito catches the ball at the right moment.
7 minIt has been a rather slow start to the contest, to be honest, despite that early chance for Callejon. As expected, Napoli are controlling the possession of the football, but it is largely in and around midfield.
9 minIn case you are wondering why I have not yet updated you with the David Moyes reports, it is because I have yet to get a confirmation. Reports in Italy earlier today had claimed that he will be at the game tonight, but so far there are no signs that he is actually inside the stadium.
11 minThe Napoli supporters are in full volume even though their team are yet to really start the fireworks.
12 minCHANCE! Goran Pandev tries to curl his shot from outside the box with his left foot and he goes close as well, but his attempt is not on target.
13 minCHANCE! Atalanta almost take the lead much against the run of play as Marko Livaja runs with the ball towards the Napoli penalty box and then shoots from over 20 yards, but Rafael Barbosa makes a good save between the posts.
14 minGOAL! Napoli 0-1 Atalanta (Giuseppe De Luca)
15 minGOAL! Napoli 1-1 Atalanta (Jose Callejon)
15 minThe match has kicked into top gear now and fireworks are going off! Two goals inside a minute and it is 1-1 between Napoli and Atalanta now in Naples. It is the visitors who take the lead much against the run of play on 14 minutes when they launch a counter-attack and Giuseppe De Luca taps in from just yards out after Marko Livaja rolls the ball across the face of goal. However, 60 seconds later Jose Callejon makes it 1-1 as he volleys home a delivery from Anthony Reveillere.
17 minCHANCE! A loose ball creates problem for the Atalata defenders as Napoli look to take advantage of the situation, but Polito makes the all-important catch of the ball.
18 minThe tempo of this last-16 contest has picked up indeed and the match has opened up. Napoli are still in control of the possession, though, but Atalanta have shown that they can be very threatening if allowed to go on a counter-attack.
21 minExchange of words between De Luca and Callejon following a rash challenge from the latter on the Atalanta goalscorer. The referee intervenes and so do a number of players, and eventually the two duo resolve their differences.
23 minGokhan Inler tries a long-range attempt, but it is one of his worst shots as it goes way, way wide.
25 minCHANCE! Duvan Zapata hits the side-netting after a brilliant attacking movement from Napoli, with Lorenzo Insigne getting involved as well. Very good passing display from the hosts, but the Napoli striker fails to get his shot on target from a very narrow angle on the left side of the Atalanta penalty box.
28 minCHANCE! Pandev does brilliantly to get a pass between the Atalanta defenders, but it falls between Zapata and Zapata and the visitors clear the danger away.
30 minThe visitors launch a counter-attack and earn a corner, but they fail to capitalise on it. It is 1-1 between Napoli and Atalanta after 30 minutes in this Coppa Italia last-16 tie.
32 minThe tempo has dropped a little bit now, but this is quite commonplace in Italian football. I am sure that it will pick up soon, and then go flat again...
34 minA reminder that if the match ends in a draw after normal time, then it will go into extra time and penalties if necessary. There are no second legs or replays.
36 minOh, Pandev does brilliantly to keep the ball on his feet under pressure on the edge of the Atalanta penalty box, hoodwinks his marker by feigning to shoot and then tries to slip a pass through to his teammate who is closer to the goal, but he fails to find him and Atalanta roll the ball away from danger.
37 minNow Maggio earns a corner as he gallops down the right and sees his cross turned out by an Atalanta defender.
37 minThe corner is taken short by Napoli and does not yield anything productive at all.
38 minI have not seen much of Lorenzo Insigne today. He is a very talented player, but so far he looks out of sorts and is struggling to get himself involved in the game.
39 minAnd just as I mention him, Insigne gallops down the left flank and tries to put in a cross, but it is easily fended off.
41 minLess than five minutes until the referee blows the half-time whistle. I would not be surprised if it remains 1-1 at the interval. Neither side are looking particularly creative in attack, although Napoli are trying their best to breach the Atalanta citadel.
43 minDaniele Baselli tries a long-range ambitious effort for Atalanta, but his left-footed shot is way wide and does not trouble Rafael at all.
44 minAtalanta’s Constantin Nica is down on the pitch and looks to be in real pain. He just fells down while running, probably a hamstring injury. This is just his fourth start of the season and it will be a real disappointment for him if he has to go off now.
45 minNica is back on his feet and play resumes, while the fourth referee signals that there will be two minutes of injury time at the end of the first half.
45+2 minCHANCE! Brilliant defending from Yepes as he slides in to clear a dangerous cross from the right for a corner, which yields nothing productive for the hosts.
45+3 minHALF TIME: Napoli 1-1 Atalanta
8.52pmIt’s half time at the the Stadio San Paolo in Naples where Napoli and Atalanta have played out a 1-1 scoreline. It has been a very enthralling first 45 minutes of Coppa Italia action that has given us two goals and everything to play for in the second half.
8.54pmGiuseppe De Luca gave Atalanta the lead much against the run of play after just 14 minutes when he finished off slick counter-attacking move. However, 60 seconds later Napoli were back on level terms when Jose Callejon volleyed home brilliantly from the right side of the penalty box.
8.57pmNapoli were the better and more attacking side as the first half progressed and could have taken the lead in first-half stoppage time had Mario Yepes not made an important intervention and cleared away a dangerous cross from the right flank.
8.59pmThe winner of this last-16 clash will go onto face Lazio in the quarter-finals on January 29. And the winner will be decided tonight. There will be no second legs or replays if it ends in a draw after normal time – the match will stretch into extra time and then penalties if needed.
9.02pmThe second half will start shortly. It is 1-1 from the opening 45 minutes and the signs are that we will see goals in the second period. Napoli will remain as the favourites, but Atalanta have shown that they can stun their hosts.
9.04pmThe players and the referees are now walking down the tunnel and onto the pitch. It is just a matter of minutes before the second half gets underway.
46 minKICKOFF Napoli get the second half of this Coppa Italia last-16 tie underway. It is 1-1 from the first half.
46 minNapoli under pressure in the opening minute of the second half as Maggio struggles against his opponent on his side. Corner for the visitors...
47 minYohan Benalouane gets on the end of the corner and knocks it down for Marko Livaja, who tries to shoot on goal, only to see his attempt go high over the crossbar.
49 minPlay is still continuing inside the Napoli half and very close to their penalty area. Napoli have yet to get out of their own half in the second period so far.
50 minFinally Napoli manage to get forward but without much luck. At least they have taken the early second-half pressure off them now and can look to craft attacking moves from now on.
52 minCHANCE! Duvan Zapata collects a pass from Inler and then shoots on goal from outside the Atalanta box, but his attempt is blocked by a defender.
54 minYELLOW CARD Yohan Benalouane gets the first yellow card of the match for a rash challenge on Duvan Zapata.
57 minConstantin Nica is down again with injury, but this time he gets up on his feet quickly and also gets a free kick. Can Atalanta do something from this set-piece situation?
60 minSUBSTITUTION Napoli make their first change of the evening. Slovakian attacking midfielder Marek Hamsik comes on for Goran Pandev. This is Hamsik’s first appearance for the Azzurri since November 23 – he has been sidelined with injury since then.
61 minCHANCE! Good attacking movement from Napoli that ends in a goal kick for Atalanta. The hosts launch a counter-attack with Insigne, Zapata and Hamsik all getting involved, but the latter’s final delivery into the box goes out without being met by a Napoli player.
62 minSUBSTITUTION Atalanta make their first change of the match. Guido Marlingo comes on in place of Giuseppe De Luca.
63 minYELLOW CARD Riccardo Cazzola is shown the yellow card for his challenge on Josip Radosevic. Free kick to Napoli around 25 yards away from the Atalanta goal.
64 minOFF THE BAR! Lorenzo Insigne takes the free kick with his right foot, curls it over the bar and gets it past Atalanta goalkeeper Ciro Polito, but the crossbar denies him from giving Napoli the lead. It was a perfectly executed free kick and the Napoli youngster was so so unlucky on that occasion.
66 minNapoli are looking the better side in this contest at the moment as Atalanta are really struggling to craft any kind of an attacking move. Insigne is now fully involved in the game and he could well be the player who unlocks the Atalanta defence.
69 minAtalanta finally get the ball inside the Napoli box, but Raul Albiol steps up and plays the ball out of danger and onto the feet of his attacking teammates.
70 minCHANCE! Callejon receives the ball on the right wing and with time and space, he sends in a cross that Duvan Zapata tries to flick on goal, but his attempt goes just wide of the far post.
70 minSUBSTITUTION Rafael Benitez sends in Gonzalo Higuain and takes off Duvan Zapata. The Napoli coach is now intent on winning this contest inside the 90 minutes.
71 minGOAL! Napoli 2-1 Atalanta (Lorenzo Insigne)
71 minNapoli go 2-1 up and under very, very controversial circumstances indeed. A delivery is floated in from outside the box for Gonzalo Higuain, who is in an offside position. Cristiano Del Grosso turns around to appeal for the offside, the ball hits him on the back and falls to Insigne, who then slots home from close range.
72 minThe Atalanta players are very, very angry and are protesting vehemently with the officials. Higuain was in an offside position, but the flag was not raises and then Insigne scores.
72 minYELLOW CARD Mario Yepes is actually shown the yellow card for protesting too much for that goal.
74 minRED CARD! Mario Yepes has actually been sent off now. He has been shown the second yellow card for continuing to argue with the referee and is now off!
76 minSUBSTITUTION Atalanta are down to 10 men as they make a change. Guglielmo Stendardo replaces Daniele Baselli.
78 minCHANCE! Wonderful effort from Hamsik, who tries an acrobatic effort from an Insigne delivery from close range, but just fails to keep it on target.
80 minGOAL! Napoli 3-1 Atalanta (Jose Callejon)
80 minNapoli are now home and dry for sure. Rafael Benitez’s side go 3-1 up as Callejon slams home a brilliant pass over the top from Inler. Incidentally it is Del Grosso who plays the Spaniard onside.
82 minYELLOW CARD Tempers are rising in Naples now as Livaja and Albiol clash with each other. Both are cautioned by the referee.
84 minSUBSTITUTION Another change for the visitors, who are down to 10 men. Luca Cigarini replaces Luigi Giorgi. Meanwhile, Davide Bariti replaces Jose Callejon.
87 minCHANCE! Radosevic tries to shoot on goal from outside the Atalanta box, but he mishits it. However, it falls kindly to Higuain, who makes a good quick turn, although his final effort goes just wide of Polito’s goal.
90 minTwo minutes of injury time have been awarded. It is all Napoli at the moment, as Atalanta are just trying to get through the remainder of the contest without conceding another goal.
90+2 minFULL TIME: Napoli 3-1 Atalanta
9.55pmIt’s all over at the Stadio San Paolo in Naples where Napoli have defeated Atalanta 3-1 to progress to the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia. It was 1-1 at the break, but Lorenzo Insigne scored a controversial goal on 72 minutes that propelled the hosts to victory. Mario Yepes was sent off for arguing with the officials over that goal and Jose Callejon added his second 10 minutes from time to wrap up the win for the Azzurri.
9.57pmIt was not a vintage performance by Napoli but coach Rafael Benitez will be pleased that the win was wrapped up inside 90 minutes. As for Atalanta, they will feel hard done by the second home goal that proved to be crucial in deciding the outcome of the tie.
9.59pmI hope that you enjoyed our coverage of the clash here on Sports Mole and thank you very much for joining me. Have a good night, it’s goodbye from me for now.
