Napoli-Juventus 2-1
GOALS: 7′ pt Hojlund; 14′ st Yildiz, 33′ st Hojlund.
NAPLES (3-4-3): Milinkovic-Savic 6; Beukema 6, Rrahmani 6.5, Buongiorno 6; Di Lorenzo 6, Elmas 5.5, McTominay 6.5, Olivera 5.5 (24′ st Spinazzola 6); Neres 7.5 (35′ st Politano sv), Hojlund 8, Lang 6 (41′ st Vergara sv). On the bench: Contini, Ferrante, Marianucci, Mazzocchi, Juan Jesus, Lucca, Ambrosino. Coach: Conte 7.
JUVENTUS (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio 6.5; Kalulu 5.5, Kelly 5, Koopmeiners 5; Cambiaso 5.5 (26′ st Kostic 5.5), Locatelli 6, Thuram 6 (37′ st Zhegrova sv), Cabal 5.5 (1′ st David 5.5); Conceicao 5.5 (31′ st Miretti 6), McKennie 5.5; Yildiz 7 (31′ st Openda 6). On the bench: Perin, Scaglia, Felipe, Joao Mario, Rouhi, Adzic. Coach: Spalletti 5.5.
REFEREE: La Penna di Roma 6.5.
NOTES: peaceful evening; playing field in fair condition. Booked: Good morning, Kalulu, Beukema. Corners: 9-0 for Napoli. Recovery: 1′; 4′.
After the victories against Atalanta and Roma, Napoli also beat Juventus 2-1 and find themselves top of the Serie A, alone, waiting for Milan (on the pitch tomorrow against Torino). The star of the evening was Rasmus Hojlund, who scored a goal in each half: the temporary equalizer scored by Yildiz was therefore “useless”. On the eve there was great anticipation for Spalletti’s return to the city that gave him the greatest joy of his career. When he entered the pitch, however, the welcome from his former fans was cold: neither applause nor whistles for the coach from Certaldo. Some Napoli fans, however, were not “spared” when the opposing bus arrived at the Maradona and was hit by some stones. Unlike a disoriented Juve, in the first half, Napoli showed right from the start that they knew well how to behave on the pitch, playing with greater intensity and organisation.
In particular, the most decisive man among the Neapolitan ranks is David Neres, who already in the 5th minute provides an assist for McTominay’s header to the side. The second dangerous initiative created by the Brazilian winger was instead capitalized on with a robbery by Hojlund. In the 7th minute, in fact, Neres jumps past Koopmeiners and places the ball in the center for the Danish striker, who is quick to anticipate Kelly and pass Di Gregorio for the 1-0 goal. Then in the 26th minute the Juventus goalkeeper was providential in saving Di Lorenzo’s aerial shot following a corner. At the end of the half we began to glimpse some lukewarm signs at Juventus, especially thanks to the quality of Yildiz, deployed as a false nine. However, Spalletti’s idea of playing without a real offensive reference does not pay off: so David comes on at half-time for Cabal.
Although Napoli also approached the second half with determination, Juventus only needed a burst to score the 1-1 goal. On a counterattack in the 59th minute, McKennie pots in for Yildiz who only equalizes the score ahead of Milinkovic. The guests gain confidence and the match becomes more balanced. Napoli, however, did not give up and managed to regain the lead, taking advantage of a sensational mistake by McKennie. In the 78th minute, following a cross from Neres, the American midfielder intercepted his header, but provided an involuntary assist for Hojlund who, from two steps, beat Di Gregorio and scored the 2-1. The final assault by the Bianconeri produced only a central shot by Zhegrova in the 94th minute, blocked without problems by Milinkovic-Savic. With this success, Napoli overtakes Inter and returns to first place in the Serie A standings, at 31. For Juve, however, comes the seventh consecutive defeat at Maradona: the Bianconeri stuck in seventh place.