08 December 2023
Juventus stretched out a 12-point lead over Napoli with a 1-0 win over Serie A's defending champions on Matchday 15.
The game’s only goal came from Federico Gatti, whose two goals in as many matches have brought six points to the Bianconeri’s push at the top of the table.
THE MATCH
With both sides setting off with clear intent, the match started at an electrifying pace but despite end-to-end play there were no clear cut chances inside the opening quarter of an hour.
That said, Napoli almost took the lead with a cross-cum-shot that Wojciech Szczesny managed to stop on the line.
On 18 minutes Juve started making inroads down the left flank. Dusan Vlahovic started the move on the half-way line, and an exchange between Filip Kostic and Federico Chiesa saw the number 7 set up the striker. Vlahovic took one touch before hitting his shot, which was blocked by Juan Jesus.
Vlahovic won the rebound in the air and the ball spun towards the edge of the six-yard area where it was met by an overhead kick from Weston McKennie. The acrobatic attempt finished over the bar.
A minute later, Chiesa again caused panic in the visitors’ defence, but his cut-back was deflected out for a corner before a teammate could pounce.
The best chance of the first half fell to the defending champions on 28 minutes. Victor Osimhen controlled deftly on the half-way line and sprinted into space. His cross-field pass played through Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, who one-on-one with Szczesny blasted his shot high into the stands.
The Polish keeper, on his 250th Serie A appearance, then produced a world-class one-handed save to deny Giovanni Di Lorenzo, who found himself unmarked in front of goal after Bremer attempted clearance bounced off Federico Gatii. The Napoli captain was eventually flagged for off-side.
Juve emerged with desire after the interval. Vlahovic struck the post with a shot just inside the area after being set up by McKennie. However, the midfielder was adjudged to have received possession from an offside position.
The Bianconeri continued to press, however, and made the breakthrough on 51 minutes.
Not satisfied with his match-winning heroics one week ago at Monza, Federico Gatti pounced once more to score his third of the season.
A precise delivery by Andrea Cambiaso was met by the number 4 at the height of the six-yard box. His header left Alex Meret no chance.
Napoli’s reaction came in the shape of a Franck Anguissa header that finished well off target.
Szczesny then caused a moment’s panic inside the Allianz Stadium after an attempted clearance reached the head of Stanislav Lobotka. The midfielder found Osimhen, who rounded Szczesny at the edge of the air and deposited the ball into the unguarded net. Much to Bianconeri relief, the striker was offside.
Although Walter Mazzarri reshuffled his front line from the bench, the Juve defence held strong to deny Napoli a goal in Turin for the first time in eight visits.
At the final whistle, the players celebrated with the fans for what was a 10th match without loss worth first place in the standings.
JUVENTUS 1-0 NAPOLI (HT: 0-0)
Scorers: 51′ Gatti
JUVENTUS: Szczęsny; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; Cambiaso (92′ Rugani), McKennie (92′ Iling-Junior), Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic (82′ Alex Sandro); Chiesa (82′ Kean), Vlahovic (70′ Milik). Subs not used: Perin, Pinsoglio, Huijsen, Miretti, Nicolussi C., Nonge, Yildiz. Coach: Allegri.
NAPOLI: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Natan (72′ Zanoli); Anguissa, Lobotka (86’Cajuste), Zielinski (64′ Elmas); Politano (72′ Raspadori), Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia (86′ Simeone). Subs not used: Gollini, Contini, Demme, Zerbin, Cajuste, Lindstrom, Ostigard, Gaetano. Coach: Mazzarri.
Referee: Orsato
Bookings: 45+1′ Kvaratskhelia, 58′ Bremer, 63′ Juan Jesus, 90+5′ Osimhen, 90+5′ Locatelli
