Naples atomized Juventus (5-1) and is getting closer to a Scudetto, 30 years later.
Naples can believe more than ever in the scudetto, after which it has been running for more than 30 years and the two coronations of the Maradona era, after having atomized Juventus (5-1) on Friday, pushed back to ten points a day before half -season.
Assured of the title of winter champion since last weekend, the Neapolitans have remained faithful to their attacking spirit to subdue the best defense in the championship thanks to a double from Victor Osimhen (14th, 65th) and goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ( 39th), Amir Rhahmani (55th) and Eljif Elmas (72nd). Angel Di Maria, the best bianconero in the stadium bearing the name of the Argentine idol Diego Maradona, kept the suspense alive (42nd) but that was not enough for an overwhelmed Juve after the break.
After this new offensive demonstration reminiscent of those at the start of the season in the Champions League, in particular against Liverpool (4-1), Naples increases its lead to ten points over Juventus and AC Milan, traveling to Lecce on Saturday to resume second place on this 18th day.
stadium on fire
Obviously, nothing is settled in the middle of the season, but this success, and above all the manner, will confirm the growing hopes of Luciano Spalletti, of his players, but also of an entire city crazy about football, which is chasing after its third scudetto since the triumphs signed Maradona in 1987 and 1990.
Cautious, Juventus, as expected, started low, decided to wait to play their luck against, with the ex-Neapolitan Arkadiusz Milik at the forefront and in the corridors the rockets Federico Chiesa and Filip Kostic. Faithful to a defensive attitude which allowed him to straighten his head after his failed start to the season by chaining eight victories until his trip to Naples.
But the Old Lady was betrayed this time by her defense, which gave way in the first quarter of an hour: Wojciech Szczesny repelled Kvaratskhelia’s acrobatic volley but Osimhen was the quickest (14th). The top scorer in Serie A took off his mask to take the ovation from a burning stadium. The atmosphere went up a notch when Kvaratskhelia doubled the lead, taking advantage of a caviar from the Nigerian (39th).
“Der” d’Agnelli
Intoxicated by this perfect scenario, Naples was however surprised in the wake of a winning foray from Di Maria, who converted with the left foot a perfect delivery from Milik (42nd). The Argentinian world champion had already alerted Alex Meret after the opener but his shot had found the bar, after a gift from Neapolitan defender Amir Rhahmani (21st). The same Rhahmani was very close to scoring against his side just before the break, forcing his goalkeeper to a reflex stoppage to prevent Juve from equalizing (45 + 2nd)!
But the hopes of Juve to offer its resigning president Andrea Agnelli a last victory before he gives up his seat on Wednesday, under the pressure of a judicial inquiry into the Turin accounts, collapsed on recovery. Rhamani made people forget their difficult first period by winning a corner (55th). Osimhen increased his lead at the top of the standings by signing a twelfth achievement, from the head (65th). And Elmas knocked out the team of Massimiliano Allegri (72nd).
What to give reason to the coach of Juve who recalled in recent days that the objective of his team, always diminished by numerous absences (Pogba, Vlahovic, Bonucci, Cuadrado), is above all the Top 4, just synonymous of the Champions League.
