Napoli wins the 2025 Italian Super Cup: A Merry Christmas with the Samba rhythm

24/12/2025 07:26:00 PANDATV

The finest Christmas present coach Antonio Conte brought home from the desert after beating Bologna 2-0 in the Italian Super Cup final was more than just the trophy or the hefty prize money; it was the resurgence of David Neres.

More accurately, it was an acknowledgment of the Brazilian winger’s contributions and impact. From being a "disappointment icon" after Kvaratskhelia’s departure, Neres evolved into a hero, gracefully maneuvering the ball to elevate Napoli to the pinnacle of triumph.

From surplus to superstar

Nearly a year ago, when David Neres was signed by Napoli from Benfica to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (who moved to PSG), the expectations on him were enormous. Yet for a long time, Neres only caused sighs of disappointment. He was seen as a symbol of lacking ambition, a stopgap signing unworthy of Napoli after selling their star player.

However, in the past two months, Neres has risen to become the player Napoli once believed in. Since October 21, he has scored 3 goals and provided 4 assists to help Napoli overcome difficulties following Kevin De Bruyne’s injury, culminating in a brilliant performance at the Super Cup. He was the tournament’s standout star in Riyadh: opening the scoring in the semi-final win over Milan and netting both goals in the final against Bologna.

The first goal against Bologna was a masterpiece. Neres curled a perfect left-footed shot reminiscent of the greats Alessandro Del Piero and Lorenzo Insigne. The second goal showcased the tactical mindset typical of Conte: intense pressing, stealing the ball inside the box, and finishing with cold precision. Two goals, two styles: one artistic, one warrior-like.

Neres’s revival is not solely due to his own efforts. It bears the strong imprint of Antonio Conte, who always knows how to "unlock" talented stars. Conte previously adjusted tactics to highlight players like Scott McTominay, De Bruyne, and Hojlund, and now it’s Neres’s turn. He has harnessed the Brazilian’s skill and intelligence into effective performance. De Bruyne’s injury seems almost fortunate, as it opened the door for Napoli to discover a long-term, impactful player as Neres transitioned from a backup option to a key figure.

David Neres is the brightest star leading Napoli to the Italian Super Cup victory

""A priceless "boost" for the stormy month

Beyond the third Super Cup trophy placed in the club’s trophy room (after 1990 and 2014), the triumph in Riyadh brought Napoli a rich harvest both materially and spiritually. In a period where Italian football is tightening budgets, the 9.5 million euro prize money is a valuable fund for Napoli to reinvest in the winter transfer window to strengthen a squad weakened by injuries.

Yet the moral value is priceless. Napoli proved they still burn with the fire of victory despite the players being exhausted. Captain Di Lorenzo asserted that with the spirit shown in Riyadh, Napoli can defeat any opponent. It’s worth recalling that six weeks ago, after losing 0-2 to Bologna in Serie A, coach Conte harshly criticized the players’ mentality, declaring, "I don’t want to accompany the dead," implying the whole team lacked motivation.

A special note is that during the Super Cup, Napoli’s usual "strong at home, weak away" issue was suddenly cured. Previously, all seven defeats this season occurred on the road (including the loss to Bologna mentioned), but this time, their first title of the season was won in the most distant place possible: Saudi Arabia. This will be a great encouragement for Conte’s squad to break the away-game curse upon returning to Serie A.

In the next 30 days, Napoli will face a very challenging schedule, especially considering the venue factor. They must play away matches against Lazio, Inter, and Juventus in Serie A, three crucial battles that could directly influence their chances to defend the Scudetto. In the Champions League, they also travel to Copenhagen for a tricky match (partly due to weather conditions). The precarious situation in the qualification round puts enormous pressure on Conte’s team.

It is a tough mountain climb. But with a flourishing David Neres, a defense regaining focus, and the spirit of Italian champions, Napoli is ready to turn this "stormy month" into a springboard for end-of-season glory.

Defeated today, victorious tomorrow?

According to the newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, it seems Napoli’s chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis has identified Bologna’s coach Vincenzo Italiano as the future replacement for Antonio Conte. Given Conte’s straightforward and decisive nature, his departure at any time is not surprising.

The paper reports that De Laurentiis has admired Italiano ever since the 48-year-old coach led the underdog Spezia to a 2-1 victory over Napoli in 2021 and has repeatedly sought to bring him to Napoli over the years. Italiano’s attacking football philosophy and consistent 4-3-3 formation from Spezia to Fiorentina and Bologna are exactly what De Laurentiis wants at Napoli.

Nguyễn Vinh

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