In the fourth round of the Serie A, Napoli faced their toughest test yet against Juventus. The two teams had met twice before this season, with Napoli winning both matches. However, the intensity of the match was as high as ever, and the crowd was equally passionate.
The first half saw both teams struggle to find any rhythm. Juventus scored early on in the second minute when Mario Balotelli fired a low shot past Napoli goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Napoli responded soon after, with a goal from Diego Stilwell just four minutes later.
The second half brought a much-needed change for Napoli. They managed to score through Marco Materazzi in the 59th minute. Materazzi found space down the right wing, then headed into the top corner of the net. This was the breakthrough that would put Napoli ahead, but it wasn't enough to stop Juve from scoring another three goals in the final ten minutes.
Napoli's defense struggled throughout the game, allowing Juve to create numerous chances. But despite the struggles, the Italian champions were determined to come back strong in the end. With just over an hour left on the clock, they were given the opportunity to extend their lead. Gianluigi Buffon made a superb save to deny Mario Mandzukic, but the visitors were too quick for him and scored again in the 88th minute.
The penalty shootout was called out by referee Giovanni Trapattoni, who ruled that Juventus had won the game 2-1. Napoli lost 2-1 to Juve in extra time, leaving them at the bottom of the table.
This defeat marked a significant step backward for Napoli, who will now have to work hard to regain their form and improve their position in the league. But with their next game coming up against Inter Milan, there is no doubt that Napoli will be looking to bounce back and make a comeback in the coming weeks.