Top 5 UEFA Cup Finals: # 4
By: Dan | May 18th, 20091988-1989 Napoli 5 – Stuttgart 4
Napoli’s finest hour, featuring a classic, yet underrated, Maradona performance.
The close aggregate score actually flatters Stuttgart, who were not awful, but were assuredly outclassed by Napoli. Stuttgart were at their most dangerous from set pieces, they simply lacked the requisite creativity attacking from open play (too many aimless punts forward in the highlights alone,) and their defending was often uncomposed. Their tendency to over commit multiple defenders to the ball carrier was responsible for several Napoli goals.
I have no idea why Maradona’s performance in these two games isn’t immediately categorized with his 1986 World Cup efforts. He only scored once over the two legs from the penalty spot, but was instrumental in nearly everything Napoli did creatively.
My favorite Maradona moment in this final is his assist for Ciro Ferrara’s goal in the second leg. A deflected corner finds its way back to Maradona, at which point pretty much every Stuttgart player between him and the goal turns and starts towards him, so he simply heads the ball back across to Ferrara who needs just one touch to score.
Also, credit is due to Stuttgart for pulling two late goals back. It was very much a positive stereotypical German, they aren’t beaten until the final whistle performance. Napoli were probably a little relieved that the game ended when it did.
Semi related fun fact: from 1989 to 1999 only the 1996 final did not feature an Italian team.
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