Napoli Held To 0-0 By Parma As Conte Watches On In Stalemate

Napoli were held 0-0 by Parma at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, missing a chance to close in on Inter in the Serie A title race. Suspended Antonio Conte watched from the stands as Napoli stayed third,

three points behind Inter, after Cristian Chivu's organised team limited Napoli's attack despite heavy pressure.

Conte's side created far more than Parma but lacked accuracy in key moments. Napoli recorded 16 shots worth 1.39 expected goals, yet only four attempts tested Filippo Rinaldo. They also logged 45 touches inside Parma's penalty area, compared with Parma's four, and made 93 entries into the final third without managing a decisive strike.

The match turned early when Scott McTominay thought Napoli had taken the lead after 11 minutes. Alessandro Circati's attempted clearance hit the post, and McTominay converted the rebound at the second try. However, VAR cancelled the goal for an offside by Paquale Mazzocchi in the build-up, leaving the home support frustrated.

Napoli continued to apply pressure following that decision, forcing Parma deeper. Alessandro Buongiorno met a cross with a powerful close-range header from the edge of the six-yard box, but Rinaldo blocked centrally. The Parma goalkeeper then reacted well again, getting low to deny Rasmus Hojlund after another promising Napoli attack.

After the interval, Napoli maintained control while Parma stayed compact near their own area. McTominay had another attempt blocked, and Noa Lang also saw a shot charged down as defenders crowded the box. Napoli's best later opportunity fell to Amir Rrahmani, who fired over from a tight angle on the right side of the area.

Parma rarely threatened in open play but stayed disciplined without the ball. Their defensive shape limited clear spaces for Napoli's forwards, forcing many efforts from crowded positions. Napoli's wide players delivered frequent crosses, yet central defenders cleared repeatedly, preserving Parma's clean sheet despite long spells of pressure.

The goalless draw followed Napoli's 2-2 result against Inter, which had previously kept the leaders within reach. Dropping more points against Parma now leaves Conte's squad with a tougher task in the title race. It is also the second successive 0-0 Serie A meeting between these clubs, underlining Parma's recent success at containing Napoli.

For Napoli, this result extends a sequence of stalemates in the league. The Partenopei have now drawn three consecutive Serie A matches, their first such run since February 2025. While the defensive record remains solid, the lack of cutting edge in matches like this one increases the pressure on upcoming fixtures in the campaign.

Full time: #NapoliParma 0-0 #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/UTen0xLoqnOfficial SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) January 14, 2026