Napoli beat Roma to go 13 points clear in the Serie A

Serie A league leaders Napoli beat Roma 2-1 in an enthralling contest at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium on Sunday evening.

With both AC Milan and Juventus losing earlier on the day, Napoli took full advantage as the result sees them go 13 points clear of second-placed Inter Milan at the table’s summit.

Osimhen stunner

The Partenopei started the better of the two sides, settling down with their fluid attacking approach and possession-based game.

Roma hardly had the ball in the first quarter and were duly punished in the 17^th minute when Victor Osimhen gave the hosts the lead with a sensational volley.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia played a quick one-two with Mario Rui before clipping the ball into the far post; Osimhen first chested down, kept in the air with his thigh, and then thundered an unstoppable volley past Rui Patricio in the Roma goal.

It was the Nigerian’s 14^th goal in the league this season.

It took Roma close to 45 minutes to get their first shot on goal when Alex Meret saved Leonardo Spinazzola’s drilled effort towards the Napoli goal.

ose Mourinho’s side dominated proceedings after the restart as Stephan El Shaarawy’s introduction in the left flank caused Napoli problems.

Napoli were far from their best, but the hosts should have gone 2-0 ahead in the 55^th minute had Kvaratskhelia not spurned a golden opportunity after being played through by Hirving Lozano.

The Georgian took a heavy first touch, and the chance was gone.

Roma had the lion’s share of the ball, and Meret once again kept his side in the lead with a terrific save from Bryan Cristante’s header in the 62nd minute.

Ten minutes later, though, the Giallorossi were level when El Shaarawy kept himself onside and sneaked past Lozano’s far post to slot home Nicola Zalewski’s cross from the right wing.

Late winner

When it seemed that the match would head for a draw substitute, Giovanni Simeone scored the winning goal with a stunning left-footed curler inside the penalty box in the 86th minute.

Roma threw everything in the final few minutes, but Napoli held on for a famous win and stopped their rivals’ 5 games unbeaten streak.

Luciano Spalletti’s side are on 53 points from 20 matches, and it’s undoubtedly their title to lose as they seek a first Scudetto in almost three decades.  

Photo credit: IMAGO / Uk Sports Pics Ltd