Madrid/Naples, Dec 06 (V7N) — A dramatic night of football unfolded in Europe as Atletico Madrid edged past CP Caserno in the Copa del Rey, while Lazio knocked Napoli out of the Coppa Italia with a stunning hat-trick from Tijani Noslin.
Atletico Madrid avoided a major upset by defeating second-division side CP Caserno 3-1 in a thrilling Copa del Rey encounter.
- CP Caserno’s Early Lead: Alvaro Marencio stunned Atletico in the 30th minute, giving the underdogs a well-earned lead.
- Late Equalizer: Atletico struggled to break through Caserno's defense until Clement Lenglet leveled the score in the 83rd minute.
- Decisive Ending: The game took a heartbreaking turn for Caserno when they conceded an own goal in the second minute of injury time. Alvarez sealed Atletico's victory in the sixth minute of stoppage time, completing a remarkable comeback.
In Naples, Lazio delivered a commanding performance to defeat Serie A leaders Napoli 3-1, thanks to a hat-trick from Dutch forward Tijani Noslin.
- Early Opportunities: Napoli missed an early penalty after 20 minutes, failing to capitalize on their chances.
- Noslin’s Brilliance:
- Noslin opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with a precise header from Samuel Gigot's cross.
- Napoli equalized through Giovanni in the 36th minute, but Noslin restored Lazio’s lead just five minutes later with an assist from Pedro.
- The Dutch striker completed his hat-trick in the 50th minute, dashing Napoli’s hopes of a comeback.
Despite sustained pressure, Napoli failed to find the net again, allowing Lazio to advance in the Coppa Italia.
- Atletico Madrid will aim to carry their Copa del Rey momentum into La Liga as they chase silverware this season.
- Lazio’s victory sends a strong message to their Coppa Italia rivals as they eye domestic cup glory.
- Napoli, meanwhile, will need to refocus as they maintain their lead in Serie A.
Two thrilling matches demonstrated the unpredictable beauty of cup football, where the stakes remain high and surprises abound.
END/RH/AJ
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