Napoli 2-1 Juventus - Giacomo Raspadori snatches dramatic late victory for hosts in huge Serie A clash
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Updated 03/03/2024 at 22:17 GMT
Napoli claimed a hugely important victory over Juventus on Sunday evening as they moved into seventh place in the Serie A standings, four points off the European places and eight short of the top four. Juventus remain 12 points adrift of Inter, who have a game in hand. The result gave Napoli's caretaker manager Francesco Calzona a first win at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Giacomo Raspadori of SSC Napoli celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Serie A TIM match between SSC Napoli and Juventus at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona
Image credit: Getty Images
Giacomo Raspadori scored a late winner to give Napoli a 2-1 victory over Juventus, a result which moves Inter Milan closer to winning Serie A and keeps the Neapolitans' fading hopes of UEFA Champions League qualification alive.
Substitute Raspadori was on hand to finish the rebound when Victor Osimhen's 88th-minute penalty was saved and restore the home side's advantage.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had put Napoli ahead with an excellent first-half volley, punishing Juve for a string of missed chances, before Federico Chiesa's drive appeared enough to salvage a point for the Old Lady.
Yet Osimhen - who won the penalty through determined hold-up play - and Raspadori had other ideas, giving Napoli's caretaker manager Francesco Calzona a first win at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Victory moves Napoli seventh in Serie A, four points off the European places and eight short of the top four. Juventus remain 12 points adrift of Inter, who have a game in hand.
Talking Point - A night to forget for Vlahovic
Vlahovic entered this match in fantastic form, with eight goals in his last five games, but there was little evidence of that purple patch on display as he missed a series of excellent chances.
In the first half alone he could have had a hat-trick - twice missing the target when presented with fantastic chances unmarked, as well as hitting the post from a more difficult opening. In the second half he was quieter and denied by Alex Meret the one time a half-chance presented itself.
Vlahovic is an excellent striker, as eight goals in five games suggests, and will no doubt regard this as one of those games. His movement was still impressive. But a performance like this on a big occasion for Juventus will not be forgotten in a hurry.
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Dusan Vlahovic missed a string of chances in Juventus' defeat at Napoli
Image credit: Getty Images
Player of the Match - Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)
Took his goal excellently and was Napoli's most reliable attacking force, moving the ball forward with driving runs. If Calzona can get Kvaratskhelia back to his best, it may well be a recipe for getting the Napoli manager's job on a permanent basis.
Player Ratings
Napoli: Meret 6, Di Lorenzo 6, Rrahmani 6, Jesus 6, Olivera 6, Anguissa 7, Lobotka 6, Traore 4, Politano 6, Osimhen 6, Kvaratskhelia 8. Subs: Ostigard 6, Raspadori 7, Zielinski 6, Lindstrom n/a
Juventus: Szczesny 7, Bremer 6, Rugani 6, Sandro 6, Cambiaso 5, Alcaraz 5, Locatelli 6, Miretti 5, Illing-Junior 5, Vlahovic 5, Chiesa 7. Subs: Weah 5, Yildiz 6, Nonge 4, Danilo n/a, Milik n/a.
Match Highlights
10' - CHANCE! Chiesa charges down an Olivera clearance, gathers the loose ball and crosses for Vlahovic - unmarked, 10 yards from goal - but the Serbian heads just wide.
34' - OFF THE POST! Vlahovic beats the offside trap and beats the goalkeeper with a first-time chip - but the ball comes back off the post and it remains 0-0.
42' - GOAL! Napoli 1-0 Juventus (Kvaratskhelia): A Napoli cross is headed only halfway clear and Kvaratskhelia is waiting. He volleys hard, low and in at the near post via a slight deflection.
45' - BAD MISS! Traore is caught on the ball deep in his own half and Vlahovic has a brilliant chance with just the goalkeeper to beat, but blazes over!
81' - GOAL! Napoli 1-1 Juventus (Chiesa): Chiesa plays a one-two with Alcaraz, enters the penalty box and blasts a low strike across the goalkeeper, into the far corner.
88' - GOAL! Napoli 1-0 Juventus (Raspadori): Osimhen takes a penalty he won, Szczesny saves low to his left, but Raspadori is on hand to bury the rebound into the top corner!
90+2' - CHANCE! There are bodies everywhere at a Juventus corner and a mad scramble ends with Rugani, after the ball is sent back across goal, hacking over from close range.
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