Juventus snatch late win against Napoli to go top
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Updated 13/02/2016 at 22:32 GMT
Serie A, Juventus Stadium - Juventus 1 (Zaza 88) Napoli 0.
Juventus' forward Simone Zaza (C ) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the Italian Serie A football match Juventus Vs Napoli on February 13, 2016 at the "Juventus Stadium" in Turin.
Image credit: AFP
Simone Zaza scored a spectacular winner two minutes from time to give Juventus a 1-0 win over Napoli in the top of the table clash in Serie A.
The Bianconeri knock Maurizio Sarri's side off top spot after a dramatic end to a cagey game in Turin to make it 15 wins on the spin.
It was the home side's defence which had kept them in the game with Gianluigi Buffon making a brilliant stop to deny Raul Albiol.
But it was substitute Zaza who was the hero with a venomous effort from long range, which took a slight deflection, to put the reigning champions top for the first time this season.
The only sour point was Leonardo Bonucci picking up a knee injury which makes him a doubt for the Champions League last 16 clash with Bayern Munich on February 23rd.
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Juventus' players celebrate at the end of the Italian Serie A football match Juventus Vs Napoli on February 13, 2016 at the "Juventus Stadium" in Turin.
Image credit: AFP
KEY MOMENTS
19’ - POGBA EFFORT: Juve have a rather fortunate free-kick around 35 yards out. Pogba and Dybala stand over it, the Frenchman curls it around the wall but it goes over the bar. Not a bad effort.
36' - BUFFON SAVE! From the resulting corner, Buffon is at his best to keep out Albiol's stabbed effort at the far post, the defender should have scored.
40' - REINA TO THE RESCUE: Reina keeps his side in the game with an impressive stop to deny Dybala after the Argentine gets on the end of Marchisio's low shot
51' - EVRA EFFORT: Juve have a corner, Cuadrado will send in across. It is headed across goal by Khedira at the back stick and Evra hooks his effort over the bar from close range.
62' - DYBALA OPPORTUNITY: The Argentine collects Pogba's pass inside the box, wraps his foot around the ball and his half volley fizzes narrowly over.
80' - HAMSIK CHANCE: Hamsik reminds everyone he is on the pitch by arrowing a long-range effort over the bar, Buffon was beaten.
88' - GOAL! Juventus 1-0 Napoli: Substitute Zaza slams the ball in from outside the box with a venomous effort to break the deadlock.
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Juventus' goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon celebrates during the Italian Serie A football match Juventus Vs Napoli on February 13, 2016 at the "Juventus Stadium" in Turin
Image credit: AFP
KEY STATS
Juventus have kept six clean sheets in a row, and have only conceded 15 goals in 25 league games.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side were at one stage 11 points behind the leaders in Serie A in October.
Napoli have not tasted victory away to Juve since 2009.
The Naples club see their run of eight victories in a row come to an end.
TALKING POINT
Have Napoli blown their chance of winning the title for the first time since 1990? Sarri's side are only a point behind Juve but psychologically this will be damaging. Gonzalo Higuain appeared to have tears in his eyes as he walked off in Turin. A point would have kept them two points clear but now they find themselves in second place. The key will be how Napoli pick themselves up and hope that the Champions League may be a distraction to Massimiliano Allegri’s men.
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Napoli's coach Maurizio Sarri (L) hugs Juventus' coach Massimiliano Allegri during the Italian Serie A football match Juventus vs Napoli at Juventus Stadium in Turin on February 13, 2016
Image credit: AFP
MAN OF THE MATCH
Gianlugi Buffon (Juventus): The 38-year-old made an incredible stop to keep out Raul Albiol's prod in the first half. He was also on hand to keep out Lorenzo Insigne's cross shot and was his usual commanding self in a nervous performance by both teams.
PLAYER RATINGS
Juventus: Buffon 9, Lichtsteiner 6, Barzagli 6, Bonucci 8, Evra 6, Cuadrado 6, Khedira 5, Marchisio 5, Pogba 7, Dybala 6, Morata 5. Subs: Rugani 5, Zaza 5, Sandro 5.
Napoli: Reina 7, Hysaj 5, Albiol 5, Koulibaly 7, Ghoulam 5, Allan 5, Jorginho 5, Hamsik 5, Callejon 5, Higuain 5, Insigne 6. Subs: Mertens 5.
MATCH IN A TWEET
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