Scott McTominay's decisive header in the second half secured a 1-0 victory for Napoli against Monza in Serie A. This win temporarily places Antonio Conte's squad level on points with league leaders Inter. McTominay scored in the 72nd minute, converting a well-placed cross from Giacomo Raspadori. Monza performed admirably in the first half, with Pedro Pereira nearly scoring, but Napoli dominated after halftime.
McTominay has been instrumental in his debut Serie A season, consistently making a difference for Napoli. The Scottish midfielder has netted nine goals this season, six of which were the first goals of their respective matches. This achievement makes him the most frequent opener in Serie A. In this match, he led with three shots and two on target.

Napoli's second-half performance was more effective despite having more attempts (11) and expected goals (0.84) in the first half. They capitalised on their five second-half attempts, achieving an xG of 0.46. McTominay's goal was his ninth league goal this season, matching Marek Hamsik's record for a Napoli midfielder since their promotion to Serie A in 2007-08.
With this victory, Napoli now looks forward to Bologna facing Inter on Sunday, hoping for a favourable outcome that could benefit their standing. The team's current form and McTominay's contributions have been crucial as they aim to challenge for the top spot.
The match saw Napoli initially struggle to impose themselves despite creating more chances early on. However, they found their rhythm post-break, with McTominay breaking through Monza’s defence to secure the win. His consistent ability to score crucial goals has been vital for Napoli’s campaign.
This result highlights McTominay’s growing influence within the team and his knack for scoring pivotal goals. As Napoli continues its pursuit of Inter at the top of Serie A, performances like these will be essential for maintaining pressure on their rivals.