Napoli Thrash Aris 6-2, Arsenal Defeat Como on Penalties

Napoli, under the guidance of Massimiliano Allegri, delivered a commanding performance in their final friendly match before the official start of the season against Genoa on August 23rd. They secured a resounding 6-2 victory against Aris Thessaloniki, with goals from Rrahmani, McTominay, and braces from De Bruyne and Lucca. This result offers positive signs for the Livornese coach, who made numerous substitutions in the second half. The first half concluded with Napoli holding a one-goal lead, thanks to a crucial strike from Scott McTominay just before the break. The second half saw two players, De Bruyne and Lucca, each score twice. The Belgian star continues to prove his importance to the Napoli project, while the Azzurri striker aims to revitalise his career under Allegri's leadership.

Arsenal vs. Como: Decided by Penalties

In a match that offered a glimpse of Champions League intensity, Como drew 1-1 with Arsenal in their penultimate pre-season friendly before ultimately losing out in a penalty shootout. This high-calibre test against the English champions and European vice-champions marked a significant occasion for Como. For their manager, Cesc Fàbregas, it was a return to his former club, where he began his illustrious career. The friendly ended in a tie with goals from Lewis-Skelly for Arsenal and Baturina for Como. In the penalty shootout, misses from Smolcic and Morata proved costly for Fàbregas's team. Arsenal took an early lead in the match when Butez made an error, allowing Lewis-Skelly to score into an empty net. However, Como responded with a spectacular counter-attack, culminating in a brilliant equalizer from Baturina just before halftime. The second half saw numerous substitutions, with Calafiori entering the game for the European vice-champions and Chalobah making his debut for Como, among other tactical adjustments. While the second half lacked the excitement of the first, Butez made a crucial save late in the game to secure the draw for Como. The match concluded 1-1, with Arsenal ultimately prevailing in the symbolic penalty lottery due to the missed efforts of Smolcic and Morata.