NAPLES - The Nerazzurri began with a 4-2-3-1 for their Coppa Italia quarter-final knockout tie at the San Paolo. Jovetic led the line ahead of the trio of Biabiany, Ljajic and Perisic. Napoli decided to leave out Serie A's leading marksman Gonzalo Higuain, opting instead for Gabbiadini.
Five minutes in, Perisic found space down the left and crossed low but Reina collected the ball. A few seconds later, Mertens tried unsuccessfully to catch out Handanovic from the halfway line. The match didn't get going, with Napoli failing to break into the Inter final third, while the Nerazzurri saw counter attacks from Biabiany and Perisic stifled.
On 13 minutes, Mertens rifled in a shot but Handanovic pushed the ball to safety. Five minutes later, Jovetic found Ljajic in the box whose effort was well blocked by Strinic. Inter continued to press high and midway through the first half Jovetic escaped Koulibaly and found Kondogbia on the edge of the box: the Frenchman's effort with his left was deflected as far as Nagatomo. Napoli then threatened Handanovic's goal a couple of minutes later, when Strinic cut the ball back for Callejon. Once again Inter's number one got down sharply.
Inter were nearly caught on the break on two occasions shortly before the interval: neither Callejon nor Mertens were able to get the right weight on the final ball to Gabbiadini, however. In the first instance, Miranda got across the front of his marker, while Telles cleared the second opportunity. Just before the break, Handanovic dropped to his right to keep out Gabbiadini's free-kick. The score was goalless at the break.
There were no changes for either side at the start of the second half. Inter kept the ball well but didn't create much in the opening five minutes. Then Biabiany won a free-kick from a good position and Alex Telles' effort caught the wall. Napoli woke up and started to put pressure on Inter, Mertens stinging the palms of Handanovic from the edge of the box. The tempo of the game dropped though Medel won possession back and found Ljajic, who kept the ball well before feeding Jovetic: the Montenegrin's powerful drive from just outside the area was straight at Reina who collected at the second attempt. On 65 minutes, Inter worked a good move with the ball eventually finding Medel at the back post: his volleyed effort went just over.
Inter broke the deadlock with a quarter of an hour to play. Medel won the ball back yet again and rolled it forward to Jovetic. He skipped passed Koulibaly and curled a wonderful strike past the motionless Reina from just outside the box. The hosts looked to respond with the newly-introduced duo of Hamsik and Higuain but it was Ljajic who went close, escaping down the left and drilling into the side-netting from a tight angle.
Higuain sent Inter a warning shot eight minutes from time, showing good movement to meet Mertens' cross with his head, though his effort finished off target. The Nerazzurri held firm and eventually punished the ten men of Napoli, a man light following Mertens' dismissal for a second yellow. Jovetic sent Ljajic running clear from inside his half and the Serbian had enough pace to hold off Chiriches, before showing the composure to send Reina the wrong way with the finish.
Handanovic would add another world-class save to his collection in stoppage time, acrobatically tipping over a fizzing shot from Higuain. But it would end in another clean sheet for Inter, who move into the last-four.
Napoli 0-2 Inter (HT: 0-0)
Scorers: Jovetic 75, Ljajic 90+1.
Napoli: 25 Reina; 2 Hysaj, 26 Koulibaly, 21
Chiriches, 3 Strinic; 5 Allan (17 Hamsik 58), 6 Valdifiori, 19 David
Lopez (8 Jorginho 65); 7 Callejon, 23 Gabbiadini (9 Higuain 71), 14
Mertens.
Subs not used: 1 Rafael, 22 Gabriel, 8 Jorginho, 11 Maggio, 20 Deli, 24 Insigne, 26 Ghoulam, 33 Albiol, 77 El Kaddouri, 96 Luperto.
Coach: Maurizio Sarri.
Inter: 1 Handanovic; 55 Nagatomo, 25 Miranda, 5 Juan
Jesus, 12 Telles; 17 Medel (83 Felipe Melo 87), 7 Kondogbia; 11
Biabiany, 22 Ljajic, 44 Perisic (8 Palacio 73); 10 Jovetic.
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 9 Icardi, 14 Montoya, 21 Santon, 23 Ranocchia, 24 Murillo, 27 Gnoukouri, 33 D'Ambrosio, 77 Brozovic, 97 Manaj.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.
Booked: Miranda 46, Valdifiori 71, Mertens 79, Higuain 80.
Sent off: Mertens 88
Added time: 0+5 minutes.
Referee: Paolo Valeri.
Assistants: Giallantini & Passero
Fourth official: Di Bello.
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