It was the match that was talked about for weeks. Juventus hosted Napoli in Turin on Sunday night sitting just four points ahead of the Partenopei before the match kicked off. The away side had enjoyed the better of the play as the match progressed beyond half-time, but it seemed like the resolute and experienced defence of Juve was going to hold firm for a much-welcomed draw.
Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri introduced striker Arkadiusz Milik on the hour mark, replacing Dries Mertens in order to further stretch the play. Yet his side still couldn’t find a way through and it seemed as if it could be the team who had won the last six consecutive Serie A titles who would be the most likely to score a dramatic late winner.
However it was the visitors who would score in the dying moments of the match, Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly rising up to head in the most dramatic of late winners as Napoli won for the first time ever at Juventus stadium. The Bianconeri only had themselves to blame as they failed to fire a single shot on target and now face Inter next week with the gap cut to just a single point.
Champions League contenders all secure victories
Roma, Lazio and Inter are all battling for two remaining Champions League spots in Serie A, and after the trio all won this weekend the two capital clubs remain ahead of the Nerazzurri by just one point.
Mauro Icardi notched up his 26th goal of the season for Inter in a 2-1 victory over Chievo, Roma secured a 3-0 win over the normally defensively sound SPAL and Lazio thrashed Sampdoria 4-0. Ciro Immobile fired in a late brace for the Biancocelesti, taking his total to 29 for the season and becoming the first Italian player to reach that tally in Serie A since Antonio Di Natale in 2009/10.
Benevento beat Milan but can’t escape the drop
Benevento caused headlines all over the world back in November when they earned their first ever point in the Italian top flight thanks to a 96th minute header from goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli as they drew 2-2 with AC Milan. Just five months later, Le Streghe (the witches) had earned just 14 points in 33 matches but put a spell on the Rossoneri once again, this time at San Siro.
The minnows pulled off a shocking 1-0 win on Saturday night, thanks to a goal from Pietro Iemmello, and even managed to hang on for all three points when Cheick Diabate was sent off on 80 minutes. “Winning at San Siro might not help us climb the table, but it will remain in my history and the history of Benevento,” Coach Roberto De Zerbi admitted to reporters after the match. “It’s been a wonderful evening, for all we suffered through this season, and I’ll never forget it.”
Despite their efforts however, Benevento were mathematically relegated after Crotone came back from 1-0 down versus Udinese to win 2-1 thanks to an 86th minute goal from Davide Faraoni.
