Raspadori is new-look Napoli's latest unlikely hero

ROME－For a team that lost its captain, all-time leading scorer and defensive stalwart in the offseason, Napoli has filled in the missing pieces masterfully.

With every match, it seems, the southern club discovers a new weapon.

After midfielder Piotr Zielinski shined in the impressive 4-1 win over Liverpool in the Champions League, reserve striker Giacomo Raspadori scored his first goal for Napoli in the 89th minute of a 1-0 victory over Spezia in Serie A on Saturday.

"It's difficult to play three days after a night like that against Liverpool, especially in the afternoon in this heat. But despite it all, we did everything we could to get the result," Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti said.

"This is a show of character, patience and belief that sooner or later we'll find the goal, but we can't always afford to be in these situations and they were costly last season."

The last-gasp win at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona moved unbeaten Napoli atop Serie A, ahead of defending champion AC Milan on goal difference.

Ten-man Milan won 2-1 at Sampdoria but had Rafael Leao, its most impressive attacking player this season, sent off. Portuguese winger Leao will now miss this weekend's clash with Napoli.

Napoli and Milan was a point above Atalanta ahead of the Bergamo-based club's home clash with newly promoted Cremonese on Sunday.

Inter Milan moved up to fourth, two points back, with a 1-0 win over Torino.

Napoli is chasing its first league title since Maradona led the club to its only two Serie A championships in 1987 and 1990.

Raspadori, the 22-year-old loaned from Sassuolo, started in place of the injured Victor Osimhen and Spalletti kept him on until the end despite substituting most of his other attacking players.

Spalletti's decision paid off when Raspadori put himself in position to redirect a cross from Hirving Lozano and fire inside the back post.

"These are all starting points for me," Raspadori said. "I had missed two chances but I was able to remain lucid."

It was just what Napoli had in mind when it agreed to the loan deal, which requires the club to purchase Raspadori's full rights at the end of the season for 30 million euros ($30 million).

What's more is that Raspadori became Napoli's eighth different scorer in Serie A this season, tied for the most in the league with Inter.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the 21-year-old Georgia winger who has already scored four goals and was named Serie A's player of the month for August, showed off his skills again on the left flank when he embarrassed two defenders with a double nutmeg in the first half.

A few minutes later, "Kvara" was at it again with more dizzying dribbling moves to shake off his markers. His shot this time was a bit more precise but Spezia goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski smothered his effort in front of the near post.

Zielinski came on as a second-half substitute and made an immediate impact, producing a long-range shot that Poland teammate Dragowski had to palm over the bar.

Spezia also threatened on occasion and centerback Amir Rrahmani cleared a shot off the line amid chaos within Napoli's defense.

In all, Napoli is doing well to move on after former captain Lorenzo Insigne left for Toronto FC, record scorer Dries Mertens went to Galatasaray and defender Kalidou Koulibaly joined Chelsea.

South Korea centerback Kim Minjae, Koulibaly's replacement, was rested after he too has made a big impact.

"There's a great atmosphere within the team. Everyone is very welcoming, which is important for someone shy like me joining a squad like this," Raspadori said.

Spalletti was sent off with his second yellow card amid scuffles after Raspadori's goal, which also resulted in a red card for Spezia's goalkeeper coach.

Up next for Napoli is a visit to Scottish club Rangers in the Champions League on Tuesday. Then Spalletti should be suspended for next weekend's clash with Milan.

Agencies Via Xinhua