Napoli suffer worst start in 25 years after Venezia defeat

Napoli’s difficult start to the 2026/27 season continued with a 1-0 defeat by Venezia in Serie A on Saturday.

The loss came after their 3-1 defeat by Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday. Napoli travelled to Stadio Luigi Penzo for the seventh round of the Serie A campaign but were beaten by Akor Adams’ 49th-minute goal.

Napoli had the chance to equalise in the second half, but Kevin De Bruyne missed a penalty.

The defeat means Napoli have now lost five of their first nine matches this season when their Serie A and Champions League games are combined.

They have not made such a poor start to a campaign since the 2001/02 season.

Mubarak Haruna

Mubarak Haruna is an emerging force in African football journalism, recognised for his speed, accuracy and ability to break major stories. He specialises in breaking news, match coverage and multimedia storytelling across radio, television and digital platforms.He holds a degree in Journalism from the Ghana Institute of Journalism and has developed his craft within some of Ghana’s leading media organisations. Mubarak has worked with the Multimedia Group, where he served as a sports radio and television presenter at Joy FM, while also contributing as a writer for Myjoyonline.com.Known for his sharp instincts and ability to deliver timely football stories, Mubarak has gained growing recognition for his impactful reporting and dedication to the profession.He is currently the Deputy Managing Editor of African.Football, where he plays a key role in driving editorial operations, breaking major stories and supporting the platform’s mission to deliver fast, reliable and high-quality African football content to a global audience.

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