Napoli put five past Juventus in Serie A clash

• Napoli hosted Juventus in a top-of-the-table Serie A clash on Friday night
• Juventus needed three points to close on leaders Napoli who are having one of their best-ever campaigns
• Napoli scored five past Massimiliano Allegri’s side to extend their lead at the top of the summit

In Friday’s top-of-the-table encounter, Napoli easily defeated Juventus 5-1 to snap their eight-match Serie A winning streak without giving up a goal, moving them 10 points clear of the standings.

Since losing to Milan in early October, Juve had been on an impressive run of form, but Victor Osimhen eventually got past their defence after 14 minutes.

At Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Osimhen switched roles and assisted Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for Napoli’s second goal. However, Angel Di Maria scored a goal just before halftime to make it 2-1.

Amir Rrahmani and Elif Elmas also scored goals for Luciano Spalletti’s team, but Osimhen’s second goal gave them the lead and the Scudetto.

Napoli players celebrate after striker Victor Osimhen scored the opener against Juventus in the Serie A on Friday, January 13 2022. | PHOTO: Eurosport |

Napoli gained the advantage when Wojciech Szczesny palmed Kvaratskhelia’s acrobatic attempt into Osimhen’s path for a straightforward close-range goal.

After Bremer’s blunder allowed Osimhen to play his teammate in, Kvaratskhelia extended Napoli’s advantage with a cool finish after Di Maria’s dipping attempt hit the crossbar.

Di Maria’s low goal past Szczesny following a ball exchange with Arkadiusz Milik gave Juve a lifeline, although Napoli ought to have eliminated the threat.

Meret did an outstanding job of stopping Rrahmani from scoring on himself, and that effort was amplified when the player volleyed in on the half-volley from a corner.

After more sloppy play from Bremer, Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen again connected, allowing the latter to header across Szczesny with 65 minutes remaining, putting the hosts out of reach.

Elmas, who replaced the injured Matteo Politano at the break, added a fifth goal for Napoli with a drive that was deflected in off Alex Sandro to cap off a magnificent performance.

Napoli players celebrating the fifth goal scored by Elif Elmas against Juventus in the Serie A. | PHOTO: BBC |

SCUDETTO IN SIGHT FOR NAPOLI

Juve could not possibly compete with Napoli’s attack in this match between the Serie A squad with the greatest offensive record and the team with the best defensive record.

With a victory that puts them 10 ahead, Napoli made a joke of Juve’s string of eight straight shutouts. Milan may cut that lead to seven when they play Lecce on Saturday.

Spalletti’s team has now defeated Juve at home in the league four times in a row for just the second time ever, and they are rapidly approaching their first Scudetto since the 1989–1990 season.

JUVENTUS DEFENSE CRUMBLES

Juventus had gone 770 minutes without conceding in Serie A – their fifth-longest streak in the competition – prior to Osimhen scoring the first of Napoli’s five goals.

Not one visiting defender can say they had a good game, but Bremer, in particular, had a shocker, the Brazil international directly at fault for two of the opposition’s strikes.

NAPOLI’S ATTACK ON FIRE

Since losing 5-1 to Pescara in May 1993, Juventus hasn’t given up five goals in a Serie A game until now.

Osimhen scored one goal and provided an assist, but Kvaratskhelia, who contributed to four of Napoli’s goals in a brilliant attacking performance, was maybe even more impressive.