Conte Wins Another Trophy with Napoli! A Flood of Chances and Almost Criminally Poor Finishing
Napoli outclass Bologna, Antonio Conte lifts his 11th coaching trophy, and the Partenopei claim their third Italian Super Cup.
Napoli defeated Bologna in the Italian Super Cup final, confirming their dominance and handing Antonio Conte his 11th trophy as a head coach. The match was supposed to be competitive — instead, it turned into a one-sided showcase of Napoli’s control and Bologna’s collapse.
Napoli and Bologna reached the final after eliminating Milan and Inter respectively, denying the Milanese clubs a repeat of last season’s Super Cup final. Champion versus Coppa Italia holder — on paper, it was the perfect pairing.
Saudi Setting, Empty Seats, and Growing Doubts
The Italian Super Cup was once again held in Saudi Arabia. The final at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh, a stadium with a capacity of 25,000, failed to sell out. Empty seats were clearly visible throughout the match.
Against the backdrop of the recent scandal involving the cancelled Milan vs Como match in Australia — first approved, then scrapped due to financial risks and AFC regulations — this scene only strengthened the arguments of those opposed to hosting Italian competitions outside Italy.
Recent History Suggested a Tight Game. Reality Said Otherwise
In 2025, Napoli and Bologna had already met twice:
- a 1–1 draw in April,
- and a 2–0 home win for Bologna in November, when Vincenzo Italiano’s side comfortably dealt with the champions.
In fact, Napoli had beaten Bologna only once in their previous six meetings. Neutral fans expected a balanced final. They were wrong.
Napoli Took Control from the First Minute
From the opening whistle, Napoli dominated. Bologna looked suffocated, as if they never stepped onto the pitch. Perhaps too much energy had been spent against Inter in the semifinal?
In the first half, Bologna failed to create a single real chance. Even worse for Italiano, they allowed Napoli to generate dangerous attacks with alarming frequency.
In the 11th minute, Eljif Elmas missed a golden opportunity, firing narrowly wide from inside the box. Soon after, Giovanni Di Lorenzo whipped a dangerous ball across the six-yard area. Conte’s team attacked relentlessly, executing the coach’s trademark patterns over and over again. A goal felt inevitable.
Missed Beauty, Then a Moment of Class
Napoli came close again in the 37th minute after a stunning one-touch combination. Leonardo Spinazzola broke through one-on-one, attempted a chip over Federico Ravaglia, but his effort was too weak. Bologna midfielder Lewis Ferguson cleared the ball off the line.
No goal? No problem.
Just two minutes later, David Neres received the ball from a throw-in, cut inside from the right, and curled a brilliant shot into the far corner. 1–0 Napoli — a deserved reward for total first-half dominance.
Bologna’s Hopes Died Quickly After the Break
There was hope that Bologna would reset after halftime and restore some intrigue. Napoli had other plans. The Neapolitans were not about to let go of their first Super Cup since 2014.
Early in the second half, Napoli pushed for a second goal. Ravaglia made several crucial saves, the best coming from a powerful Amir Rrahmani header under the crossbar.
Bologna finally created their first real chance in the 56th minute: Riccardo Orsolini crossed for Ferguson, but the Scot fired straight at Vanja Milinković-Savić.
Seconds later, Bologna were punished.
Neres Turns Pressing into a Statement
David Neres pressed Jhon Lucumí inside the penalty area, stole the ball, closed in on goal, and delicately chipped Ravaglia. 2–0.
A disastrous error from Bologna’s defender — and one that surely knocked a few million off his market value. For Napoli, though, a new star is emerging. Neres had already scored against Milan in the previous match; now he delivered a brace in a final.
Napoli in Control, Bologna Out of Ideas
At 2–0, Napoli were happy to give up possession. Bologna are far more dangerous in transitions than in positional attacks — and this final confirmed it once again. Italiano’s side failed to create any serious problems for Napoli’s defense or goalkeeper.
If anything, Napoli were closer to a third or even a fourth goal.
Chances Went to Waste — Repeatedly
In the 78th minute, Scott McTominay reminded everyone of his flair with an acrobatic scissors kick inside the box, narrowly missing the near post. He had pulled off the same trick earlier this season with Scotland against Denmark.
Rasmus Højlund, on loan from Manchester United, also had his chances: first shooting wide from a promising position, then selfishly refusing to square the ball to a free teammate.
Matteo Politano should have scored as well. Put through by Miguel Gutiérrez, he faced an empty net — and somehow blasted the ball over the bar. Napoli seemed almost too kind, wasting chance after chance.
Conte Keeps Winning — and Dreaming
Napoli claimed their third Italian Super Cup in history.
For Antonio Conte, it was trophy number 11 in his managerial career.
For now, the romance between coach and club continues. If Conte avoids his usual fallout with management or players, this Napoli side — in its current form — looks capable of pushing for a second consecutive Serie A title.
As for Bologna, they simply didn’t show up. In a Super Cup final, they failed to offer any real resistance to Napoli — and paid the price.
Published by Patrick Jane
23.12.2025