Dries Mertens keeps Napoli top of Serie A
ByReuters
Updated 21/01/2018 at 17:07 GMT
Napoli survived a tough test at Atalanta on Sunday as Dries Mertens' second-half goal gave them a 1-0 win that kept them top of Serie A.
Dries Mertens Chievo Napoli 2017
Image credit: Getty Images
Lazio scored five goals for the second league game in a row as they hammered Chievo 5-1 despite an injury to Serie A top-scorer Ciro Immobile and veteran Fabio Quagliarella grabbed a hat-trick in Sampdoria's 3-1 win over Fiorentina.
Napoli, who avenged their home Coppa Italia defeat by Atalanta earlier this month, lead with 54 points from 21 games, four clear of Juventus who host Genoa on Monday.
"We've won a really difficult match against a team that always makes us suffer. I'm very happy for us and our supporters." coach Maurizio Sarri said. "This was a very valuable win."
Mertens ran on to a through ball by Jose Callejon and let the ball bounce several times before scoring with a dipping half-volley over goalkeeper Etrit Berisha in the 65th minute.
The Belgian, who had not scored in his last nine league games, took his tally for the season to 11 as his side extended their unbeaten away record in the league to 24 games.
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ROME, ITALY - JANUARY 21: Sergej Milinkovic with his teammates of SS Lazio celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Chievo Verona at Stadio Olimpico on January 21, 2018 in Rome, Ital
Image credit: Getty Images
Lazio went ahead through Luis Alberto in the 23rd minute, were pegged back by Manuel Pucciarelli's goal two minutes later and regained the lead through Sergej Milinkovic-Savic just after the half hour.
Immobile, who has scored 20 league goals this season, limped off shortly afterwards.
Chievo were awarded a penalty in first-half stoppage time for a foul by Senad Lulic on Mariusz Stepinksi but the referee changed his mind after consulting the video replay system (VAR).
Milinkovic-Savic scored the third with a brilliant volley in the 68th minute before Bastos and Nani added two more in the final 10 minutes to floor the Flying Donkeys.
Quagliarella opened his account against Fiorentina after half an hour, fired home the second after 60 minutes and completed his hat-trick with a close-range effort. Carlos Sanchez scored a consolation for the visitors.
Crotone won the relegation battle at Verona 3-0 and Bologna beat bottom club Benevento by the same score. Udinese were held 1-1 at home by SPAL and Torino's visit to Sassuolo ended with the same scoreline.
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