Serie A: Napoli defeat Juventus to edge closer to Scudetto

• Juventus hosted Napoli in a Serie A clash in the Allianz stadium in Turin on Sunday, April 23 2023
• The hosts needed a win to boost their top four hopes while the visitors needed one to boost their scudetto hopes
• A stoppage-time winner from Giacomo Raspadori meant Napoli are Serie A winners in waiting

On Sunday, Giacomo Raspadori’s 93rd-minute volley earned Napoli a 1-0 win over Juventus, completing a rare Serie A double over the Bianconeri.

A spectacular finish to the encounter in Turin contradicted all that had come before, with a sluggish first 70 minutes implying the two teams were taking a collective breath at the end of a hectic week.

Juve have returned to the top four after successfully appealing an earlier points punishment, while Napoli’s sole emphasis is on the Scudetto after exiting the Champions League.

If a point would have suited both sides, neither showed it, with Juve having the ball in the net twice in the final stages before Raspadori grabbed what could be called a penalty.

This match was nothing like the opposite matchup, which Napoli had dominated to win 5-1. Indeed, until Victor Osimhen had three chances come and go in rapid succession in the second half, the Partenopei created little little.

With 20 minutes remaining, the attacker had a low shot deflected off the outside of the post, then headed straight at Wojciech Szczesny from the resulting corner.

Soon after, Osimhen sent a first-time attempt over the crossbar, and that mistake proved costly when Angel Di Maria scored on the break, only for the VAR to call a minor foul in the build-up.

Dusan Vlahovic was also denied after scoring as Federico Chiesa had run the ball out of play, but it looked as though Napoli’s last chance had been squandered by Osimhen again when Szczesny saved well.

Seconds later, though, Eljif Elmas crossed from the right, and Raspadori hammered a low strike between the goalkeeper’s legs to snatch the points.

Napoli players celebrate after Giacomo Raspadori scored the winner against Juventus in a Serie A clash on Sunday, April 23 2023. | PHOTO: Sky |

Double delight for Napoli in Serie A

This was not a game that will live long in the memory, but Raspadori’s goal surely will.

The decisive strike gave Napoli just their fourth-ever Serie A double over Juventus and their first since 2009-10.

Juve may not be their title rivals this season – even if they would have improbably gone second with a win – but victories over the Bianconeri are always warmly received in Naples.

Osimhen is Serie A’s top scorer this season, so Napoli would have hoped their best chances fell his way.

As it was, his repeated failure to hit the net could well have cost the Serie A frontrunners. Osimhen’s six shots worth a combined 0.7 xG were a game-high.