Rasmus Hojlund scores twice as Napoli beat Juventus 2-1 to go top of Serie A, handing Luciano Spalletti a losing return to Naples
NAPLES: Rasmus Hojlund fired Napoli to the top of Serie A with both goals in a 2-1 win over Juventus on Sunday.
The victory came against former Napoli title-winning coach Luciano Spalletti, who left the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona empty-handed.
Hojlund headed home the decisive winner with 12 minutes remaining to seal a crucial three points.
The 22-year-old Danish striker had also put Napoli ahead early in the match, scoring his first club goal since early October.
Napoli now sit one point clear of Inter Milan after inflicting a first league defeat on Juventus since Spalletti took charge.
Antonio Conte’s side will be surpassed on goal difference if AC Milan beat Torino on Monday.
Coach Antonio Conte heaped praise on his squad for their resilience during an injury crisis.
“They’ve grown so much,” Conte said.
“It makes me very proud because they understand what we’re trying to do and the period we’re going through.”
Juventus had drawn level through Kenan Yildiz, who coolly netted his sixth goal of the season after a slick exchange with Weston McKennie.
The visitors failed to build on their second-half momentum, however, and were punished late.
McKennie’s weak defensive header presented Hojlund with the chance for his match-winning close-range finish.
The defeat leaves Juventus eight points off the pace after 14 matches under Spalletti.
Spalletti acknowledged his team’s performance dropped after equalising.
“We were better after our goal but it was schoolboy stuff, we didn’t push the situation as a team,” he said.
“We need to step it up and quickly otherwise things become difficult.”
The match began with loud boos for Spalletti from Napoli fans angered by his move to Juventus.
Elsewhere, Roma lost further ground with a 1-0 defeat at Cagliari after playing most of the second half with ten men.
Bologna drew 1-1 with Lazio to stay fifth, while promoted Cremonese beat Lecce 2-0. – AFP
