Napoli vs Juventus Review
Napoli rallied to defeat Juventus 2-1 in Serie A, marking only the second time in their last five encounters that both teams scored. The home team started strong but nearly fell behind within the first six minutes when Kenan Yildiz received a pass from Khéphren Thuram, outmaneuvered Leonardo Spinazzola, but was thwarted by an excellent save from Alex Meret. The home team continued to press and appeared threatening on the flanks, while the Bianconeri effectively handled aerial challenges. Debutant Randal Kolo Muani demonstrated his ability to create issues with his hold-up play, although Teun Koopmeiners wasted a chance by shooting well over the crossbar.
Matteo Politano nearly scored with a stunning volley from the edge of the box, while Nico González surged forward but shot wide of the post at the other end. Juventus narrowly escaped danger when Manuel Locatelli intercepted a poorly played pass from Michele Di Gregorio ahead of Scott McTominay. Stanislav Lobotka then attempted a long-range shot that went just over the bar, followed by two critical mistakes from André-Frank Zambo Anguissa. He missed a clear chance with a header and then misplayed an interception, inadvertently setting up Kolo Muani, who finished expertly.
Politano sought to respond before halftime, coming close with a free-kick he had earned. Napoli returned to the second half with determination, but Romelu Lukaku’s header was brilliantly saved by Di Gregorio. However, in the 57th minute, Anguissa capitalized on Politano’s cross, heading the ball into the bottom corner ahead of Weston McKennie. Politano and Lukaku both had shots deflected behind by Andrea Cambiaso and Federico Gatti, respectively, as Gli Azzurri pressed for the lead.
Scott McTominay created a chance by drawing a penalty from Manuel Locatelli, which Lukaku calmly converted, sending Di Gregorio the wrong way. After taking the lead, Napoli maintained their strong performance to secure their seventh straight win, putting them six points clear at the top of the Serie A standings, although Inter Milan has two games in hand. Additionally, they handed Juventus their first loss in 22 league matches this season, further deepening the struggles of a team that has managed only one victory in their last seven matches across all competitions.