Frank Anguissa’s dramatic late goal propelled Napoli to a 1-0 victory over Cagliari, extending their unbeaten streak in Serie A. Despite Cagliari’s resilient defense, Napoli’s dominance and Anguissa’s late heroics secured the win. Scott McTominay’s standout performance further solidified Napoli’s position as title contenders.
Napoli preserved their flawless start to the Serie A title defense in dramatic fashion, courtesy of a 95th-minute winner from Frank Anguissa, securing a 1-0 victory over Cagliari. The match, a rematch of the previous season's finale where Antonio Conte led Napoli to the championship, saw the home side largely stifled until Anguissa's late heroics.
The first half began cautiously, with both teams sizing each other up. The initial stages lacked clear-cut chances, but the tempo gradually increased as halftime approached. Kevin De Bruyne and Matteo Prati each sent efforts soaring over the crossbar, signaling their teams' growing ambition. Scott McTominay then forced a notable save from Cagliari's goalkeeper, Elia Caprile, in the closing minutes of the first half, setting the stage for a more engaging second half.
After the break, Napoli asserted their dominance, pinning Cagliari back and capitalizing on the visitor's risky strategy of playing out from the back. De Bruyne came close to scoring directly from a corner kick, adding to Napoli's mounting pressure. Leonardo Spinazzola then unleashed a low drive that was once again thwarted by Caprile, who was proving to be a formidable obstacle for the Partenopei.
As the clock ticked down, Napoli's urgency grew. Matteo Politano nearly broke the deadlock with a mesmerizing curling shot from the left side of the penalty area, only to see his attempt land narrowly on the roof of the net. Against the run of play, Cagliari squandered a golden opportunity when Michael Folorunsho sent his volley high over the bar, failing to capitalize on a rare foray into Napoli's territory.
The closing stages of the match were filled with tension and missed chances. Anguissa and Alessandro Buongiorno both failed to convert promising headed opportunities within the final ten minutes, further adding to the frustration among the Napoli faithful. However, Anguissa would eventually redeem himself, meeting Buongiorno's precise low cross with a controlled, first-time finish that nestled perfectly into the bottom-right corner of the net, sparking wild celebrations at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Full time: #NapoliCagliari 1-0
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— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) August 30, 2025
Data Debrief: McTominay Shines Despite Napoli's Late Win
Napoli's attacking dominance was evident in the underlying statistics, as they generated an impressive 1.7 expected goals (xG) from a total of 20 shots, compared to Cagliari's 0.51 xG from just 10 attempts. Despite not finding the net himself, Scott McTominay was a standout performer for Napoli, continuing his influential role from last season when he scored the title-winning goal in the same fixture. McTominay led the team in shots (five), touches in the penalty area (10), and shots on target (two), while also maintaining a commendable 80.8% pass completion rate, highlighting his all-around contribution to the team's performance.
With this hard-fought victory, Napoli extended their unbeaten run in Serie A to 14 games, comprising nine wins and five draws. Their last defeat in the league dates back to February against Como, making them the team with the longest active unbeaten streak in Europe's top five leagues. This remarkable consistency underscores their status as genuine contenders for the Serie A title once again.