Napoli regained courage, picked up crucial points, and, above all, reclaimed the top spot. At the Olimpico, Antonio Conte's team defeated Roma 1-0 thanks to a first-half strike from Neres, moving back ahead of the Giallorossi, drawing level with AC Milan on 28 points. It's a win that's worth more than the league table: after struggling in recent away matches, the Azzurri prevailed with a commanding and composed performance, while Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma—sole leader until yesterday—exhibited structural limitations that would surface in a direct matchup.
The first half captured the difference between the two teams. Napoli controlled possession, moved at a high tempo, and built consistently, achieving a 62% ball control rate and nearly a hundred more successful passes than their opponents. Roma attempted to defend with preventative moves and double-teaming, but Mancini and Ndicka struggled against the pace of the Azzurri forwards. And in the 36th minute, the decisive move came: Hojlund turned, spotted space, and played Neres, who outplayed Mancini and slotted the ball past Svilar for the 0-1 lead.
The rest of the half revealed little about the Giallorossi: a wide left-footed shot from Soulé and a weak attempt from Mancini weren't enough to trouble Milinkovic-Savic. Upon returning to the pitch, Gritti—on the bench in place of the suspended Gasperini—tried to shake things up by bringing on Baldanzi for Ferguson. Dybala didn't come on until the 61st minute, along with other signings designed to increase quality and pace. But Roma continued to make basic mistakes, suffered under Napoli's pressure, and relied on improvised moves.
Pellegrini tries to shake things up with a right-footed shot that flies over in the 77th minute. Bailey and El Shaarawy come on late, but the only real chance comes from Dybala, who sets up Baldanzi: a shot on his weaker foot is met by Milinkovic-Savic's alert response. It's the only real thrill of a match Napoli controlled until the final whistle. A crucial victory, putting the Azzurri back in the lead ahead of the match against Spalletti's Juventus. Roma, meanwhile, leaves the Olimpico with more doubts than certainties: another missed opportunity to prove they're capable of racing.
Comments (1)
Napoli did well to win, but Roma didn't play as they should have. The players seemed a bit tired and couldn't make the right passes. The game was a bit boring, but in the end, Napoli deserved to win.