Napoli 5-1 Juventus: Serie A leaders end Juve winning run in emphatic fashion to open up ten point lead

Napoli powered to a ten-point lead in the Serie A title race as they dished out a 5-1 battering of Juventus, who suffered their heaviest league defeat for 30-years.

The hosts had Massimiliano Allegri’s side on the ropes throughout, and would have won by an even greater margin, were it not for some good goalkeeping and, at times, poor finishing.

The visitors went into the game having not conceded in their previous eight matches, but they found themselves in unfamiliar territory after 14-minutes when Victor Osimhen nodded home the rebound after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s initial shot was superbly saved.

Juventus responded well, with Angel Di Maria rattling the woodwork with a 25-yard effort, while Arkadiusz Milik sent a towering header straight at Alex Meret. Napoli weathered the storm though, and doubled their lead just before the break when Kvaratskhelia converted from Osimhen’s pass.

The two-goal cushion did not last long though, with Di Maria pulling one back immediately after exchanging a neat one-two with Milik, but Amir Rrahmani restored the advantage after half-time with a thumping first-time finish from a corner.

After that, Juventus were all over the place at the back, and it was only a matter of time before Osimhen doubled his tally for the evening, heading home Kvaratskhelia’s cross.

Substitute Elif Elmas then made it five with a deflected effort from close range to complete the humiliation, much to the delight of the home crowd.

TALKING POINT – Napoli make big step towards title

You have to go back to 1989/90 and the days of Diego Maradona for the last time Napoli lifted the Serie A title, but their fans will now be dreaming of ending that long drought.

Luciano Spalletti’s side have still suffered only one defeat this season, to Inter Milan earlier this month, but a second loss here would have rekindled memories of last year’s collapse, when The Blues let a big lead at the top of the table slip.

Instead, they destroyed a Juventus side who had won eight games in a row, and now have a dominant 10 point lead in the title race. Could this finally be their year?

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli). Victor Osimhen ran him close, but Kvaratskhelia was the stand-out player on the pitch as he caused the Juventus defence no end of problems.

The Georgian international continued a stunning debut season in Serie A by netting his seventh goal of the campaign, as well as grabbing a couple of assists, on a night where he could do no wrong.

Still only 21, he has an eye for goal and a terrific passing range, while the speed and agility with which he cuts in off the left flank makes him almost impossible to stop when in full flow. The Juventus back three will be having nightmares about him for weeks to come.

PLAYER RATINGS

NAPOLI: Meret 7; Di Lorenzo 7, Kim 7, Rrahmani 6, Rui 7; Anguissa 8, Zielinski 8, Lobotka 7; Kvaratskhelia 9, Osimhen 9, Politano 6. Subs: Elmas 7, Olivera 6, Raspadori n/a, Ndombele n/a, Lozano n/a

JUVENTUS: Szczesny 6; Danilo 6, Bremer 4, Sandro 5; Chiesa 7, McKennie 6, Locatelli 6, Rabiot, Kostic 4; Di Maria 7, Milik 5. Subs: Kean 6, Paredes 6, Iling n/a, Miretti n/a, Soule n/a

KEY MOMENTS

14’ GOAL! NAPOLI 1-0 JUVENTUS (Osimhen). And there’s the opener! Kvaratskhelia meets a shot into the box and forces a stunning save out of Szczesny, but Osimhen is on hand to nod home the rebound. Deadlock broken

22’ OFF THE BAR. So unlucky from Angel Di Maria. Horrendous in the Napoli defence, as Rrahmani’s pass goes straight to the Argentinian, who shoots from 25-yards and sees the ball rattle woodwork. Big let off

39’ GOAL! NAPOLI 2-0 JUVENTUS (Kvaratskhelia). And right on cue, the hosts double their lead! Kvaratskhelia gets his seventh goal of the season with a calm, composed finish across Szczesny and into the far corner after being picked out by Osimhen

42’ GOAL! NAPOLI 2-1 JUVENTUS (Di Maria). Juventus are back in it! Lovely, intricate play in the box as Milik lays it off to Di Maria, who strokes into the bottom corner. Game on!

55’ GOAL! NAPOLI 3-1 JUVENTUS! (Rrahmani). WHAT! A! FINISH! A corner looks like it’s gone all wrong as it comes to the defender at the back of the area, and he unleashes an unstoppable piledriver that thumps into the bottom corner!

65’ GOAL! NAPOLI 4-1 JUVENTUS (Osimhen). And there it is! Osimhen gets his second of the night, powering a header past Szczesny from Kvaratskhelia’s cross

72’ GOAL! NAPOLI 5-1 JUVENTUS (Elmas). Elmas makes it five!! It takes a big deflection, but he won’t care at all. The winger is picked out at the back post, cuts inside and sees his shot bobble past Szczesny. This is a mauling for Juve!

KEY STATS

• Napoli have now won ten consecutive home games in all competitions
• Juventus concede four goals in a Serie A game for the first time since May 1993, when they were beaten 5-1 by Delfino Pescara 1936