ROME: Napoli joined AC Milan at the top of Serie A on Sunday after winning 1-0 at title rivals Roma, as Inter Milan kept pace with the leading pair by beating Pisa 2-0.
David Neres stroked home the only goal of a feisty game in the 36th minute at the Stadio Olimpico, ending a blistering counter-attack with a calm finish which put Napoli on 28 points.
Antonio Conte’s Napoli are behind Milan on goal difference and just one point ahead of both Roma and Inter Milan in a tight Scudetto battle.
Bologna will move level with Roma and Inter if they beat Cremonese on Monday night and Vincenzo Italiano’s team could have their say in the destination of the title which they last won in 1964.
Roma have been waiting 24 years to be crowned kings of Italy and Sunday’s defeat was already their third against a direct rival this season after also being beaten by the two Milan clubs.
Napoli have bounced back from a meltdown before the last international break and put in a classic away performance, denying Roma any real chances and pouncing at the first opportunity.
Conte had to do without Kevin De Bruyne, Andre-Frank Anguissa and Billy Gilmour — as well as long-term absentee Romelu Lukaku — but has found an effective attacking recipe with Neres and Noa Lang, who buzzed around center-forward Rasmus Hojlund.
It was Hojlund who burst forward and perfectly slipped in Neres for his third goal of the season, while robust defending kept Roma away from Vanja Milinkovic-Savic’s goal.
Roma offered little in reply, failing to break through Napoli’s backline until the 90th minute, when Milinkovic-Savic did enough to keep out Tommaso Baldanzi’s low drive from the edge of the area.
Lautaro at the double
Lautaro Martinez smashed home Pio Esposito’s low cross in the 69th minute and then ensured Inter would claim the points when he tapped in from close range with seven minutes remaining.
A last-gasp loss to Atletico Madrid midweek and derby defeat last weekend had Inter reeling and although Sunday’s three points will be welcome the overall performance was not encouraging.
“I’m happy because we won and that’s what we wanted after two defeats... I work for the team, myself and my family, I leave the talk to others,” said Martinez to DAZN.
“I hope it continues, I’ve still got plenty of time on my contract, I’m happy here and the fans love me... the team comes before everything else.”
Martinez’s goals took him to 10 in all competitions and saved Inter’s blushes, as Cristian Chivu’s side were sluggish at the Arena Garibaldi which is a stone’s throw from Pisa’s world-famous leaning tower.
Pisa, who sit in the bottom three after just one win from their 13 league fixtures, had the better of the chances before Martinez’s perfectly hit first-time strike broke the deadlock.
Atalanta coach Raffaele Palladino beat his old team Fiorentina 2-0 thanks to goals either side of half-time from Odilon Kossounou and Ademola Lookman.
Palladino took charge of Atalanta earlier this month following the sacking of Ivan Juric, and Sunday’s win was just the third of the league season for the Bergamo club who sit 11th on 16 points.
Atalanta are newly on the up following a thumping victory at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League, while sorry Fiorentina are still winless and six points from safety.
