Serie A | Napoli 3-2 Pisa: Perfect record, but far from perfect performance | OneFootball

Napoli are clear at the top of the Serie A table and the only remaining team with a 100 per cent record, as Billy Gilmour, Leonardo Spinazzola and Lorenzo Lucca struggled to break Pisa 3-2.

The Partenopei needed some squad rotation after a draining 2-0 Champions League defeat to Manchester City, where they were down to 10 men for over an hour following Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s dismissal. Romelu Lukaku will be out until December, but Alex Meret, Mathias Olivera, Eljif Elmas and Billy Gilmour stepped in. Pisa opened the season with a 1-1 draw against Atalanta, then lost 1-0 to both Roma and Udinese. Calvin Stengs sustained an adductor strain, missing out along with Idrissa Touré and Daniel Denoon, with Juan Cuadrado and ex-Napoli defender Raul Albiol on the bench.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

NAPLES, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 22: SSC Napoli players posing before the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Pisa SC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on September 22, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Matteo Politano failed to make the most of an early gift from goalkeeper Adrian Semper playing out from the back, but there was tension after 10 minutes when the referee was called over by VAR.

Kevin De Bruyne did foul Leris right on the edge of the area, but there was no penalty because the Pisa player had fallen on the ball with his hand first, neutralising that situation.

De Bruyne’s volley was smothered by Semper on a corner, while Eljif Elmas had the ball in the net on 26 minutes, but only after Rasmus Hojlund was narrowly offside when forcing a save from Semper.

Napoli eventually did open the scoring with the first goal for the club from Gilmour. Leonardo Spinazzola pulled back from the left and the Scottish midfielder sent a defender to ground with a smart dummy, then saw his finish deflected into the far bottom corner from 14 yards.

Pisa nearly equalised on the stroke of half-time, as Leris sprung the offside trap on a Michel Aebischer ball over the top and came sliding in at the back post, forcing a desperate reaction save out of Meret.

It should’ve been 2-0 for Napoli moments later, as Hojlund intercepted a wayward Marius Marin pass and sprinted towards goal, but insisted on doing it all himself and the finish was charged down.

NAPLES, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 22: Billy Gilmour of SSC Napoli celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side first goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Pisa SC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on September 22, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Matteo Politano got the finish all wrong from seven yards after a strong Spinazzola run and lay-off, then McTominay fired just over from the edge of the box.

Stefano Moreo left an enticing ball for Ebeneezer Akinsanmiro when he should’ve gone for it himself, then moments later Akinsanmiro’s scorcher was palmed out from under the bar by Meret.

Pisa were pushing and did get their penalty when a corner fell to Mateus Lusuardi, the shot from point-blank range hit Sam Beukema on the knee and ricocheted onto his outstretched arm. M’Bala Nzola converted down the middle as Meret went down to equalise.

Caracciolo at full stretch flicked a dangerous cross away from Hojlund, leading to a mad scramble on the resulting corner.

NAPLES, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 22: Billy Gilmour of SSC Napoli celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side first goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Pisa SC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on September 22, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Napoli did restore their lead when Spinazzola shrugged off a challenge and surprised Semper by drilling low into the near bottom corner from outside the area with his right foot.

Lorenzo Lucca came off the bench and within minutes had scored his first goal for the club too, gathering from McTominay and blasting into the near top corner from a very tricky angle.

Pisa wasted a golden opportunity to make it 3-2 when Beukema gave it away cheaply, but Matteo Tramoni scuffed wide with only Meret to beat.

It still wasn’t over, as Di Lorenzo capped off a nightmare week by giving the ball away cheaply at the by-line to Samuele Angori, who set up Lorran for an easy tap-in from six yards.

In stoppages, Meret made an extraordinary reaction save on Angori’s header from point-blank range, although the referee saw a foul on Politano too.

Napoli 3-2 Pisa

Gilmour 39 (N), Nzola pen 60 (P), Spinazzola 73 (N), Lucca 82 (N), Lorran 90 (P)