Having gone right down to Randal Kolo Muani’s glorious end within the forty third minute, Serie A leaders Napoli overturned the rating to inflict the primary defeat of the season for Juventus within the derby of the week in Italian prime flight, courtesy of a header from Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (57′) and a Romelu Lukaku penalty (69′).
The groups
Napoli boss Antonio Conte, who loved nice success each as a participant and a coach with Juventus, was with out defenders Mathias Olivera and Alessandro Buongiorno.
His workforce had Alex Meret in objective, with Juan Jesus stepping alongside Amir Rrahmani within the coronary heart of defence, flanked by captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo on the correct and Leonardo Spinazzola on the left. Stanislav Lobotka, Anguissa and Scott McTominay coated the center of the park, whereas striker Lukaku had Mateo Politano and David Neres in assist from broad attacking positions.
In the meantime, Juve coach Thiago Motta needed to do with out defenders Juan Cabal and Gleison Bremer, in addition to striker Arkadiusz Milik, all via knee accidents.
With Michele Di Gregorio between the posts, Pierre Kalulu and Federico Gatti fashioned the centre-back partnership, with Andrea Cambiaso and Weston McKennie on the defensive flanks. Kephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli paired up in midfield, whereas the trio of Nico Gonzalez, Teun Koopmeiners and Kenan Yildiz performed behind striker Kolo Muani.
Key moments
Juventus largely dominated the primary a part of the sport and deservedly went to the break a objective forward. They’d an incredible probability via Yildiz within the six minute, with Thuram setting the Turkish ahead up superbly, and regardless that Yildiz did nicely to do away with Spinazzola on the six-yard line, Meret dove in and made an unimaginable point-blank save.
Napoli hit again within the twentieth minute, because the ball went in and across the Juventus field earlier than Politano hit a long-range volley simply over the bar. Juventus tried once more via Gonzalez 10 minutes later, however his low effort from vary trickled broad of the submit. Anguissa got here shut after well-worked nook for Napoli, and regardless that the header went over the bar, it was maybe a warning for Juventus in regards to the aerial skills of the Napoli midfielder.
Nonetheless, minute 42 had simply expired when Juventus labored up a pleasant workforce transfer, inflicting mayhem within the Napoli field which resulted within the ball in some way reaching Kolo Muani unmarked and onside at round eight yards. The PSG loanee turned and fired immediately, beating Meret to place the Bianconeri forward.
Politano had an opportunity to equalize within the final seconds of the first-half stoppage time, however his well-struck free-kick drifted simply over the close to prime nook.
The development in Napoli’s recreation was seen straight from the restart. They got here very shut within the fiftieth minute, however it was now Di Gregorio’s flip to make a point-blank save from a Lukaku header. It was so shut that a number of Juventus gamers appealed to referee Danielle Chiffi to verify if his watch had given him the sign that the ball had crossed the road, however Chiffi stated no.
However solely seven minutes later, one other Napoli assault ended with Politano lifting the ball in direction of the six-yard line from the correct, and Anguissa escaped Gatti’s consideration to leap excessive and beat Di Gregorio, sending his workforce again degree.
The equalizer gave Conte’s males contemporary vitality, they usually might’ve gone forward via Politano within the 62nd minute, however the winger despatched one other volley over the bar.
The referee refused to present Napoli a penalty for a Gatti handball within the sixty fifth minute, and it was arguably the correct resolution because the Juventus defender had no probability of avoiding it, however simply three minutes later, Chiffi had no selection however to level to the spot as Locatelly made a late sort out on McTominay contained in the field, making particular contact with the foot of the Napoli midfielder and making no complaints in regards to the resolution. Lukaku stepped up and scored, setting what would finally develop into the ultimate rating.
Desk state of affairs
Napoli’s triumph raised their complete to 53 factors, six greater than that of Inter Milan in second place, although the Nerazzurri had been but to play their match with away to Lecce on Sunday, and would even then have a recreation in hand. It clearly elevated the importance of this victory, with the reigning Scudetto holders nonetheless in place to attract degree.
As for Juventus, Motta’s workforce stays in fifth place with 37 factors, however AC Milan and Bologna in seventh now have the possibility to catch up as they each have a recreation in hand on the Bianconeri. Additionally, the hole to prime 4 Juventus are aiming to beat could possibly be prolonged to 6 factors, if fourth-place Lazio triumph at dwelling towards Fiorentina.
Juventus can have an opportunity to enhance their place once they host Empoli subsequent week, however they first have a duel with Benfica within the ultimate spherical of the Champions League group stage. Their place within the play-offs is safe, however a victory would give them a small probability to skip that spherical and go immediately into the spherical of 16.
In the meantime Napoli journey to the capital to face AS Roma subsequent week, and it received’t be simple towards the aspect desperately trying to qualify for Europe.
