20 Penalties Decided Napoli's Steps

NAPLES, WEDNESDAY — Napoli advanced to the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia after a tense moment, 20 penalty kicks, following Cagliari's ability to force a 1-1 result in 90 minutes. This is reminiscent of the round of 32 in last season's Coppa Italia, when Napoli faced Modena.

Napoli's approach contrasts with that of Inter Milan, which performed solidly despite also rotating its players, even fielding three U-23 players. Inter defeated Venezia 5-1 to advance to the quarter-finals, where the winner of the AS Roma vs Torino match will be their opponent.

Napoli coach Antonio Conte made player rotations in the match against Cagliari, as he had to consider the tight schedule in the upcoming week. Napoli will face Juventus in Serie A and then host Benfica in the Champions League. The rotations altered the dynamics of Napoli's gameplay slightly, but they were still able to perform dominantly. Their goal was scored through solid game organization, where striker Lorenzo Lucca headed in an assist from Antonio Vergara.

However, Cagliari was able to equalize in the 67th minute through a right-footed shot from substitute player Sebastiano Esposito. The score remained 1-1 until the end of the 90-minute match. The team that advanced to the quarter-finals was determined through a penalty shootout.

This is a tense moment, as Napoli and Cagliari took turns leading the score. Napoli briefly led 5-4 following Mattia Felici's failed execution. This moment was seized by Marcus Holjun to put Napoli ahead 5-4.

However, that advantage did not last long, as David Neres' shot was successfully saved by Cagliari's goalkeeper Elia Caprile. This moment was capitalized on by Sebastiano Luperto to give Cagliari a 6-5 lead.

The turning point occurred during the 10th penalty taker for Cagliari, Zito Luvombo, where the direction of the ball to the left side of the Napoli goal was anticipated by goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic. The Serbian goalkeeper played a significant role, as he also successfully converted a penalty, bringing the score for Napoli to 7-7.

The tension of the penalty shootout was concluded by the calm execution of Alessandro Buongiorno, who struck with his left foot into the bottom right corner of the goal. The direction of the ball was indeed anticipated by Caprile, but the ball traveled faster. Napoli advanced to the quarter-finals with a score of 1-1 (9-8) and will face the winner of the Fiorentina vs Como match on January 28, 2026.

"It was a positive performance and in the end we deserved to go through," said Conte.

"Conceding a goal that originated from a rebound is truly disappointing. Nevertheless, we are pleased with the players' approach to the match and their success in advancing in the Coppa Italia. I observed some positive responses from players who usually play less, and we must continue like this because we need to make the most of what we have until our other key players return," Conte continued.

"We know we have to fight hard at this stage of the season, so we all have to give our best, as we have done. I am pleased with the attitude of my players, and we must maintain that," Conte emphasized.

For Buongiorno, who came on as a substitute, he felt the pressure leading up to the penalty execution. However, he focused solely on completing his task to the best of his ability, without overthinking.

"There is indeed pressure on me, but everything is going well. I do not think too much about it, and I am just trying to get through it. Penalty shootouts are never easy," said the central defender of Napoli.

"Now we will enjoy this victory and starting tomorrow we will begin to prepare for the next match against Juventus. We are very motivated and we will strive to stay on this path to give our best in the match on Sunday," concluded Buongiorno.

In another match, Inter Milan advanced to the quarterfinals of the Coppa Italia with a solid 5-1 victory over Serie B club Venezia. The player rotation implemented by coach Cristian Chivu went smoothly.

He even fielded three U-23 players, Matteo Cocchi, Leonardo Bovo, and Matteo Spinacce. This marks Cocchi's second match with the main team of Inter after facing Feyenoord last year. Meanwhile, for defensive midfielder Bovo and 19-year-old striker Spinacce, this is their debut in the senior team of Inter Milan.

In this match, Chivu also deployed Andy Diouf in an unusual position, right wing-back. The player from France was able to perform his role well despite being outside his best position as a midfielder.

Chivu also tested midfielder Davide Frattesi, who responded with two assists for Diouf's opener and Marcus Thuram's fourth. Thuram scored a brace in the match. Inter's other two goals came from Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny. Venezia's goal came from winger Richie Sagrado in the 66th minute.

Inter's victory is not remarkable considering their opponent is the fifth-ranked team in Serie B. However, for Chivu, the performance of the substitute players demonstrates consistency with the main team. They also exhibit a positive attitude, respecting their opponents, even though on paper they are significantly below them.

"I am very happy. I appreciate the attitude and respect shown towards the opponent. I am pleased for the players and for what they have demonstrated; this is a team that knows what to do and continues the work they have been doing over the past few months. I am very pleased with their performance and for those who played for the first time at San Siro today," said Chivu on the Inter Milan website.

The performance of the young players who are making their debut in the main team did not alter the playing pattern. They were able to quickly integrate as the main players welcomed their presence with open arms. This mentality is very important for players like Bovo and Spinacce.

"I am also happy for Diouf; this is his first appearance as a starter and he scored a goal. So many positive things, I am happy for everyone. The highest and greatest recognition goes to them (who just played for the first time), but also to those who welcomed them. It is never easy to join an established team and immediately feel like part of it. Our players, who have been here for years, have integrated them very well. This is a hardworking team that continues to develop, and the journey will continue because we still have room for improvement," Chivu continued.

"Yes, we are aware of our path and what we want to achieve. We also know that there will be different and more complicated moments, and we need to know how to manage that. Frattesi is always ready. Today it was his turn, he lasted 90 minutes and we know how significant his contribution is. I know I can rely on players who are crucial for us," emphasized Chivu.

For Thuram, the match against Venezia transcends a victory with many goals. It is a game defined by a positive attitude and the team's unity to advance together.

"Beyond the goals scored, because we scored many goals tonight, our attitude is also important. Even after conceding, I feel we played seriously. We are a solid team. We have 23-24 top-class players, as well as young players who train with us and gained important playing minutes today. For them, this is crucial and they can make a significant contribution. As I said before the match, we play in every competition to advance as far as possible, after that we will see what happens," emphasized the French striker.

Inter is now awaiting the winner of the match between AS Roma and Torino, which took place on January 14, 2026. On paper, Roma is favored to advance to the quarterfinals of the Coppa Italia and will be a worthy opponent for Inter.

Inter, who rested several key players, is preparing to host Como in the continuation of Serie A, and then will host Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday (10/12/2025) starting at 3:00 AM WIB.