Higuain’s Dream Comeback Fails Flat as Napoli Stumble in Serie AHiguain’s Dream Comeback Fails Flat as Napoli Stumble in Serie A Juventus legend Gonzalo Higuain made an emotional return to Napoli on Tuesday night, hoping to reignite his career at the club where he enjoyed his most prolific spell. However, the Argentine’s dream comeback quickly turned into a nightmare as Napoli suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Lazio in Serie A. Higuain started the match as a lone striker, supported by Lorenzo Insigne and Hirving Lozano on the wings. The former Bianconeri forward looked sharp in the early stages, showcasing his renowned movement and clinical finishing. In the 23rd minute, Higuain had a great chance to open the scoring when he received a through ball from Insigne. However, the 33-year-old hesitated and allowed Lazio goalkeeper Pepe Reina to close him down before he could get a shot away. Napoli’s profligacy in front of goal continued throughout the first half, as Insigne and Lozano also spurned good opportunities. Lazio, on the other hand, looked more threatening on the counterattack and managed to keep the hosts at bay. The second half started with Napoli still on the front foot, but their lack of cutting edge remained a major issue. Higuain, in particular, seemed to lose his confidence as the game progressed. In the 52nd minute, Lazio took a shock lead when Ciro Immobile scored with a superb volley. The Italian striker showed great composure to control a cross from Mohamed Fares and fire into the bottom corner. Napoli tried to respond, but they were caught napping in the 79th minute when Lazio doubled their lead through Manuel Lazzari. The Azzurri right-back slotted home from close range after Immobile’s shot had been saved by Alex Meret. Substitute Matteo Politano managed to pull one back for Napoli in the dying minutes, but it was too little, too late. The defeat left Napoli down in eighth place in Serie A, while Lazio moved up to second. For Higuain, the result was a major setback in his quest to prove that he still has what it takes to play at the highest level. The Argentine has now failed to score in his last six matches for Napoli, and there are growing doubts over his future at the club. Napoli, meanwhile, have now lost three of their last four league games and are in danger of missing out on a place in the Champions League next season. Coach Gennaro Gattuso will need to find a way to improve his team’s attacking output if they are to turn things around and salvage their season.
