Juventus hammer Napoli 3-0 in Turin, leaving the champions nine points off the top and in a tight battle for Champions League qualification
JUVENTUS delivered a crushing blow to Napoli’s Serie A title defence with a commanding 3-0 victory at home on Sunday.
Goals from Jonathan David, Kenan Yildiz and Filip Kostic secured a statement win for a Juve side revitalised under coach Luciano Spalletti.
The result leaves reigning champions Napoli nine points behind league leaders Inter Milan and deep in a congested fight for a top-four finish.
Juventus moved level on 42 points with fourth-placed Roma, who faced AC Milan later on Sunday.
Napoli now sit just one point ahead of both Juve and Roma, with sixth-placed Como also closing in after a big win on Saturday.
Antonio Conte’s side must now regroup for a decisive Champions League clash with Chelsea on Wednesday.
The only positive for Napoli was the return from injury of striker Romelu Lukaku, who came on as a second-half substitute.
In Sunday’s other Serie A action, Atalanta thrashed Parma 4-0 with Giacomo Raspadori scoring on his full debut.
Genoa staged a remarkable comeback from two goals down to beat Bologna 3-2 after the visitors’ goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski was sent off.
