In a thrilling Serie A encounter, substitute Giacomo Raspadori sealed an 88th-minute victory for champions Napoli over visitors Juventus, securing their first consecutive wins in five months and reigniting their faint hopes for a late push into the top four.
Napoli climbed to seventh in the standings with 43 points, trailing sixth-placed Atalanta by three points, fifth-placed AS Roma by four, and fourth-placed Bologna by eight.
Despite Juventus holding onto second place with 57 points after 27 games, their lead over third-placed AC Milan narrowed to just one point. However, they still find themselves 12 points adrift of leaders Inter Milan, who face Genoa on Monday.
The win marked Napoli’s first back-to-back league victories since their triumphs over Udinese and Lecce in September. Celebrating their recent 6-1 demolition of Sassuolo under new coach Francesco Calzona, Napoli signaled their intent to climb the table.
Calzona expressed optimism about the team’s aspirations, stating, “By winning this match, the team gave a signal that it wants to reach important positions.” However, he acknowledged the time constraints, emphasizing the need for the players to adapt quickly.
The match showcased early opportunities for both sides, with Dusan Vlahovic missing a chance for Juventus, and Giovanni Di Lorenzo squandering a golden opportunity for Napoli.
Vlahovic’s attempt to give Juventus the lead was narrowly wide, and Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia capitalized on a chance, firing a powerful volley to put the hosts in front just before halftime.
Juventus leveled the score in the 81st minute when Federico Chiesa drove the ball low into the far corner from the edge of the box.
As the game approached its conclusion, Napoli earned a penalty when Victor Osimhen was fouled in the area, but Wojciech Szczesny denied the Nigerian striker’s spot-kick, setting the stage for Raspadori’s late heroics.
The victory reflected Napoli’s resilience and determination, highlighting their potential to compete for higher positions in the league under their new coach.