(Football news) Napoli thrashed Juventus 5-1 on Friday as they increased their advantage at top of the Serie A standings to 10 points. Napoli now have moved 10 points clear with 47 points from 18 games. Juventus meanwhile slipped to third but are level on 37 points with second-placed AC Milan, who still have a game in hand. Napoli in the first half went ahead in the 14th minute, after Wojciech Szczesny saved a bicycle kick by winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia but he failed to deny Victor Osimhen follow-up header.
Angel Di Maria hit the bar with a stunning individual effort from outside the box as the Juve striker Arkadiusz Milik tried to find a way past Alex Meret with a header five minutes later, but his shot did not cause any trouble. Napoli countered as Osimhen set up Kvaratskhelia for Napoli’s second goal, the Georgian set up a precise cross into an empty space to put a finishing touch as they doubled their lead in the 39th minute. Di Maria got a quick goal back as the World Cup winner made it 2-1 with a low shot into the left corner, leaving the Napoli goalkeeper helpless between the posts.
Defender Amir Rrahmani got a two-goal lead for Napoli 10 minutes into the second half with a powerful finish following a corner. Osimhen managed to return on the scoresheet in the 65th minute with his 12th Serie A goal of the season as substitute Eljif Elmas sealed the win for Napoli in the 72nd minute. It was the most goals Juventus have conceded in 20 years in Serie A. The last time they conceded five goals was in the 5-1 loss by Pescara in May 1993. Napoli, on the other hand, are chasing their first Serie A title since 1990, and are now unbeaten in their last three matches against Juventus. Napoli play Salernitana on Jan. 21, while Juve take on Atalanta.
“The team played a great game, kept the pace high,” Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti told the media”It was a beautiful evening, especially because there was a great crowd. The Neapolitans are always behind us but this team was able to recreate love for these colours.”
“This was a deserved defeat, because we went into the game with less energy,” Allegri said after his 450th clash in Serie A as a manager. “The situations we conceded were also fairly easy to read and predict, but sometimes luck is on your side and sometimes it isn’t. We tried to turn it around towards half-time, but Napoli fully deserved [to win].”
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