Napoli v Como: Marelli on Morata’s penalty, Zufferli’s display | OneFootball

In the goalless draw between Napoli and Como, one of the most talked-about matches of Serie A’s tenth round, there was no shortage of controversial incidents. Under scrutiny was the performance of referee Luca Zufferli from Udine, officiating his sixth Serie A match of the season, reports Virgilio Sport.

Napoli-Como, the VAR review: Marelli’s verdict on the penalty for Morata and referee Zufferli’s performance

The analysis of the match was entrusted, as usual, to Dazn’s expert Luca Marelli, who clarified the most contentious points of the encounter, starting with the penalty awarded to Como for Milinkovic-Savic’s foul on Morata.

The referee Zufferli: profile, development, and previous encounters with Napoli and Como

Appointed by Gianluca Rocchi, the Friulian Luca Zufferli represents one of the new promising talents in the Italian refereeing class. Active since 2006 and part of the CAN staff since 2021, he has earned his place thanks to a strict but consistent management of matches.

His Serie A career began in 2023 with Bologna-Monza, but after a fluctuating start he found continuity and confidence. This season, he had already officiated Roma-Bologna and Fiorentina-Napoli, showing solidity and physical presence.

His track record tells of a limited but significant balance: only one match refereed for Napoli (2-0 against Verona last season) and six encounters with Como (1 win, 3 draws, and 2 losses for the Larians).

The refereeing team and the main figures of the match

Zufferli was assisted by Mokhtar and Fontemurato, with Crezzini as fourth official. At VAR was Marco Di Bello, supported at AVAR by Rosario Abisso.

During the match, the referee handed out several cards: booked were Perrone, Anguissa, Smolcic, Politano, Elmas, and Fabregas himself, the latter for protesting outside the technical area.

Key incidents: the penalty on Morata and the VAR check

The most discussed moment came in the 24th minute: a long ball found Morata behind the Napoli defense. The Spanish striker entered the box, was brought down by Milinkovic-Savic, and the referee immediately awarded a penalty.

Napoli protested, claiming offside, but the VAR check confirmed the player’s position was regular. From the spot, Morata shot with his right foot but was once again denied by an extraordinary Milinkovic-Savic, saving his second consecutive penalty after the one against Lecce.

Luca Marelli, in the post-match analysis, clarified the episode: “Correct penalty. Milinkovic-Savic arrives late and touches the player. Morata seeks the contact, but the goalkeeper’s intervention is clear. No offside at the start of the action.”

A correct decision, therefore, confirming the precise reading by VAR and Zufferli’s composure in handling a potentially decisive moment.

The other VAR cases: balance and correct management

In the first half, Perrone was booked in the 15th minute for a foul on Gilmour, followed by Anguissa (21’) for a high challenge on Morata. In the 39th minute, Smolcic received a yellow card for an illegal challenge on Hojlund.

Also noteworthy was an incident in Napoli’s area: Diego Carlos went down after contact with Hojlund, but the touch was slight and Marelli confirmed the referee’s decision: “Minimal contact, not worthy of a red card or a penalty. Correct decision.”

In the second half, bookings were also given to Fabregas (53’), Politano (67’), and Elmas (72’). After four minutes of added time, the match ended 0-0, with Napoli dominant in possession but sterile in front of goal.

The final verdict on Zufferli: growing personality and convincing officiating

Zufferli’s performance is considered positive, despite a tactically complex match. The referee managed a physical game with balance, maintaining authority and constant communication with the players.

The penalty incident, well supported by VAR, represents a test passed for a young referee who is demonstrating maturity, precision, and consistent application.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.