Napoli 2-1 Juventus: Talking points as Serie A leaders come from behind to boost title credentials

Having gone down to Randal Kolo Muani’s excellent finish in the 43rd minute, Serie A leaders Napoli overturned the score to inflict the first defeat of the season for Juventus in the derby of the week in Italian top flight, courtesy of a header from Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (57′) and a Romelu Lukaku penalty (69′).

The teams
Napoli boss Antonio Conte, who enjoyed great success both as a player and a coach with Juventus, was without defenders Mathias Olivera and Alessandro Buongiorno.

His team had Alex Meret in goal, with Juan Jesus stepping alongside Amir Rrahmani in the heart of defence, flanked by captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo on the right and Leonardo Spinazzola on the left. Stanislav Lobotka, Anguissa and Scott McTominay covered the middle of the park, while striker Lukaku had Mateo Politano and David Neres in support from wide attacking positions.

Meanwhile, Juve coach Thiago Motta had to do without defenders Juan Cabal and Gleison Bremer, as well as striker Arkadiusz Milik, all through knee injuries.

With Michele Di Gregorio between the posts, Pierre Kalulu and Federico Gatti formed the centre-back partnership, with Andrea Cambiaso and Weston McKennie on the defensive flanks. Kephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli paired up in midfield, while the trio of Nico Gonzalez, Teun Koopmeiners and Kenan Yildiz played behind striker Kolo Muani.

Key moments
Juventus largely dominated the first part of the game and deservedly went to the break a goal ahead. They had a great chance through Yildiz in the six minute, with Thuram setting the Turkish forward up beautifully, and even though Yildiz did well to get rid of Spinazzola on the six-yard line, Meret dove in and made an incredible point-blank save.

Napoli hit back in the 20th minute, as the ball went in and around the Juventus box before Politano hit a long-range volley just over the bar. Juventus tried again through Gonzalez 10 minutes later, but his low effort from range trickled wide of the post. Anguissa came close after well-worked corner for Napoli, and even though the header went over the bar, it was perhaps a warning for Juventus about the aerial abilities of the Napoli midfielder.

Still, minute 42 had just expired when Juventus worked up a nice team move, causing mayhem in the Napoli box which resulted in the ball somehow reaching Kolo Muani unmarked and onside at around eight yards. The PSG loanee turned and fired instantly, beating Meret to put the Bianconeri ahead.

Politano had a chance to equalize in the last seconds of the first-half stoppage time, but his well-struck free-kick drifted just over the near top corner.

The improvement in Napoli’s game was visible straight from the restart. They came very close in the 50th minute, but it was now Di Gregorio’s turn to make a point-blank save from a Lukaku header. It was so close that several Juventus players appealed to referee Danielle Chiffi to check if his watch had given him the signal that the ball had crossed the line, but Chiffi said no.

But only seven minutes later, another Napoli attack ended with Politano lifting the ball towards the six-yard line from the right, and Anguissa escaped Gatti’s attention to jump high and beat Di Gregorio, sending his team back level.

The equalizer gave Conte’s men fresh energy, and they could’ve gone ahead through Politano in the 62nd minute, but the winger sent another volley over the bar.

The referee refused to give Napoli a penalty for a Gatti handball in the 65th minute, and it was arguably the right decision as the Juventus defender had no chance of avoiding it, but just three minutes later, Chiffi had no choice but to point to the spot as Locatelly made a late tackle on McTominay inside the box, making definite contact with the foot of the Napoli midfielder and making no complaints about the decision. Lukaku stepped up and scored, setting what would eventually become the final score.

Table situation
Napoli’s triumph raised their total to 53 points, six more than that of Inter Milan in second place, though the Nerazzurri were yet to play their match with away to Lecce on Sunday, and would even then have a game in hand. It obviously increased the significance of this victory, with the reigning Scudetto holders still in position to draw level.

As for Juventus, Motta’s team remains in fifth place with 37 points, but AC Milan and Bologna in seventh now have the chance to catch up as they both have a game in hand on the Bianconeri. Also, the gap to top four Juventus are aiming to overcome could be extended to six points, if fourth-place Lazio triumph at home against Fiorentina.

Juventus will have a chance to improve their position when they host Empoli next week, but they first have a duel with Benfica in the final round of the Champions League group stage. Their place in the play-offs is secure, but a victory would give them a small chance to skip that round and go directly into the round of 16.

Meanwhile Napoli travel to the capital to face AS Roma next week, and it won’t be easy against the side desperately looking to qualify for Europe.