Last Updated: January 14, 2023, 07:54 IST
Victor Osimhen took his league tally for the season to 12. (AP Photo)
Napoli acquired caught into Juventus proper from the off, urgent excessive up the pitch and stopping the away aspect from constructing any play
Napoli’s desires of a primary Serie A title for the reason that days of Diego Maradona are extra alive than ever after thrashing Juventus 5-1 on Friday and shifting 10 factors clear on the summit.
Luciano Spalletti’s free-flowing crew as soon as once more thrilled with an announcement efficiency in opposition to their previous rivals to stamp their authority on a title race which is more and more wanting like a one-team affair.
Victor Osimhen took his league tally for the season to 12 with a aim in every half whereas Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Amir Rrahmani and Eljif Elmas netted the hosts’ different targets to increase their benefit on each Juve and AC Milan.
Champions Milan can reduce the hole again to seven factors with a win at Lecce on Saturday however the best way Napoli handled Juve was the most recent sign that southern Italy’s largest membership are the actual deal and able to finish a 33-year look forward to a league crown.
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Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen have been devastating in assault, with the pair establishing one another’s targets and inflicting havoc kind of from the primary whistle in opposition to a crew who earlier than Friday had solely conceded seven league targets in 17 matches.
“It was an excellent night time,” said Osimhen to DAZN.
“I’m happy for the team and I’m happy as well to contribute to it with two goals and an assist. We want to keep this momentum.
“The road is still long, we just want to continue to win our games… at the end of the season I think we have a good chance.”
Juve had come into the match at a packed Stadio Maradona on a run of eight straight wins through which they hadn’t conceded, making them title contenders regardless of a dismal begin to the season.
Instead Massimiliano Allegri’s crew left Naples with their tails between their legs after conceding 5 targets in a Serie A match for the primary time since May 1993.
“When you make errors like we did in opposition to a crew like Napoli, you will be punished. They are the league leaders and need to be the place they’re,” said Allegri.
Osimhen double
Napoli got stuck into Juventus right from the off, pressing high up the pitch and stopping the away side from building any play.
Osimhen couldn’t quite get on the end of Kim Min-Jae’s long ball in the 12th minute but the Nigeria international was not to be denied and two minutes later gave the hosts a deserved lead.
Matteo Politano’s cross found its way to Kvaratskhelia, whose acrobatic volley was brilliantly saved by Wojciech Szczesny but then fell right to Osimhen who nodded in from close range.
Juve looked like they were about to be blown away but to their credit responded to the initial bombardment and got a foothold in the game.
The Maradona had its collective heart in its mouth in the 21st minute when Angel Di Maria gobbled up a dreadful Rrahmani pass and let rip with a distance effort that skimmed off the top of the bar.
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Arkadiusz Milik and Bremer both went close with headers but with Juve apparently in the ascendency Kvaratskhelia rolled Napoli two ahead in the 39th minute after Bremer bungled a high ball and Osimhen turned provider for the Georgian wing wizard.
Juve pulled one back almost immediately through their best player Di Maria, whose precision low finish punished panicky Napoli defending.
And Napoli had Alex Meret to thank for their half-time lead after the Italian tipped away Rrahmani’s odd attempt at clearing Federico Chiesa’s inswinging cross.
Rrahmani made up for his rather shaky first-half display nine minutes after the break with a blockbuster first-time finish from Kvaratskhelia’s corner, and from that moment on it was party time for Napoli.
Kvaratskhelia crowned his majestic display in the 65th minute with a perfect cross from which Osimhen headed home Napoli’s fourth and seven minutes later substitute Elmas put the cherry on the cake with his fifth of the season, deflected past Szczesny by Alex Sandro.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated news company feed)
