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August 18, 2024

European Football: Napoli’s Troubling Start, Real Madrid Held to Draw at Mallorca – La Liga

Napoli had a disastrous start to their Serie A season on Sunday, suffering a 3-0 defeat at Verona and losing midfielder Khvicha Kvaratskhelia due to an injury from a collision with an opposing player. This injury could potentially impact Napoli’s upcoming matches, as Kvaratskhelia’s absence might affect the team’s midfield dynamics.

In his first league match as manager, Antonio Conte was forced to substitute Kvaratskhelia just before halftime as he appeared uncomfortable. Napoli’s troubles intensified after the break when Dailon Livramento capitalized on a defensive lapse, slotting in a close-range cross to give Verona the lead. The nightmare continued for Napoli in the 75th minute when Daniel Mosquera received a through ball and calmly struck a right-footed shot to double the hosts’ advantage.

Verona’s defense let up in stoppage time, allowing Mosquera to finish his double by taping in a pass from close range.  

“We immediately let Verona have a shot at the start of the second half, and in the second instance, we went behind,” Conte told Sky Sports.

“Then we melted like snow in the sun,” the new manager added. “What I feel like saying is that we should apologize to the Neapolitan supporters, who follow us with such passion. I am the coach, and it is right that I take full responsibility.”

Roma, a team with a strong defensive record in the previous season, began their campaign with a goalless draw against Cagliari, a team known for their attacking prowess. Meanwhile, city rivals Lazio, who had a successful pre-season, enjoyed a strong start, defeating newly promoted Venezia 3-1 at home despite an early scare when the visitors scored just three minutes in. Bologna and Udinese, two mid-table teams from the previous season, also played to a 1-1 draw.

Real Madrid’s title defense began disappointingly with a 1-1 draw at Mallorca. Rodrygo opened the scoring in the 13th minute, but Vedat Muriqi equalized for the hosts in the 53rd minute with a header. Despite efforts to regain the lead, Real struggled and finished the match with ten men after Ferland Mendy was sent off. This result overshadowed Kylian Mbappé’s domestic debut.

Real Madrid opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a curling strike from Rodrygo, set up by a backheel pass from Vinicius Jr. However, Muriqi equalized in the 53rd minute with a powerful header from a corner. Despite the setback, the home side frustrated Real for the remainder of the match, and the visitors ended with 10 men after Ferland Mendy received a straight red card after making a sliding tackle deep into added time, showcasing the resilience of both teams.

Rayo Vallecano Upsets Real Sociedad; Rennes Thrashes Lyon Unexpected results unfolded in the football world as Real Sociedad fell to Rayo Vallecano at home, losing 2-1 despite a late consolation goal from Martín Zubimendi in the eighth minute of added time. Rayo’s goals came from Jorge de Frutos and Sergio Camello in the 67th and 84th minutes, respectively.

In Ligue 1, Rennes secured a 3-0 victory over Lyon with goals from Benjamin Bourigeaud, Amine Gouiri, and Henrik Meister. Despite new signings Georges Mikautadze and Moussa Niakhaté, Lyon struggled, with Mikautadze missing a penalty and Niakhaté making mistakes that contributed to two goals.

Auxerre celebrated their return to the top flight with a thrilling 2-1 win over Nice, clinched by Lasso Coulibaly’s stoppage-time goal. Lens edged Angers 1-0 thanks to a first-half strike from Wesley Saïd. Meanwhile, Toulouse and Nantes played to a 0-0 draw, and Montpellier and Strasbourg ended their match in a 1-1 stalemate, providing a thrilling experience for the fans.

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