Juventus delivered a potentially fatal blow to Napoli’s faltering Serie A title defence with a ruthless 3-0 victory in Turin on Sunday, sending the reigning champions spiralling nine points behind runaway leaders Inter Milan.
A reborn Juve, buzzing under the guidance of Luciano Spalletti, produced a statement performance to leapfrog into fourth. Goals from Jonathan David, the brilliant Kenan Yildiz, and a late Filip Kostic strike sealed a win that felt like a changing of the guard. “We played really well and had fun… today we were great,” beamed Yildiz post match.
For Antonio Conte’s Napoli, already ravaged by injuries all season, it was a nightmare evening. The only glimmer of hope was the long awaited return of Romelu Lukaku off the bench, but the damage was already done by then. “I can’t criticise the lads, they gave everything,” a weary Conte told Sky. “Sometimes you manage to overcome the hurdles, sometimes you don’t.”
The result leaves Napoli clinging to a Champions League place by just three points, with surprise package Como breathing down their necks. All focus now turns to a mammoth European showdown with Chelsea on Wednesday, a game that will define their season.
Milan’s Title Hopes Fade in Roman Stalemate
Elsewhere, the gap at the top widened as AC Milan slipped five points behind city rivals Inter after being held to a 1-1 draw by a gritty Roma in the capital.
Roma, who have now drawn their first game of the entire campaign, looked headed for defeat after Koni De Winter’s header against the run of play. But captain Lorenzo Pellegrini kept his nerve from the penalty spot to snatch a point and lift his side into third on goal difference.
“Had we scored first we’d have had a really good chance to win,” rued Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini, though he took heart from a stout defensive display. “To concede so little against a team as good as Milan is the result of a lot of application.”
The weekend’s results have fundamentally reshaped the Serie A landscape. Inter, with a game in hand, are now clear favourites. Napoli’s defence is in tatters, while Juventus have loudly announced their return to relevance. The pressure is now squarely on Stefano Pioli’s Milan to keep pace, and on Conte to salvage Napoli’s season in Europe before it’s too late.
