ROME (AFP) - Juventus closed all talk of a challenge to their Italian Serie A dominance after coming through a second-half onslaught at Napoli to win 2-1, in an engrossing match that saw each side have a man sent off and stretch their lead at the top to a huge 16 points.
Massimiliano Allegri's unbeaten leaders have now as good as sealed their eighth straight title after the match on Sunday (March 3) that looked dead at half-time with Juve two goals and a man up. But it sparked back into life when goalscorer Miralem Pjanic was sent off for handling a Napoli pass and picking up a second yellow card just after the break.
"I fell asleep, I should have replaced Pjanic when he had the first card. He was at risk, but I didn't expect him to handle," said Allegri, whose future at Juve is uncertain after what will be five seasons in Turin. "I already said we'll sit down to talk about this season and the next. I am very happy to be at Juventus."
Midfielder Pjanic swept home his free-kick opener in the 28th minute, which came immediately after Napoli were reduced to 10 men. Goalkeeper Alex Meret had sliced down Cristiano Ronaldo when the Portuguese nipped in to intercept a terrible Kevin Malcuit back pass.
Emre Can added the second from a corner 11 minutes later after substitute David Ospina tipped away Pjanic's stinging shot, but the Bosnian's red card gave Napoli a glimmer of hope.
They were back in the game in the 61st minute when Jose Callejon tapped home a pinpoint Lorenzo Insigne cross, and then piled the pressure on a suddenly creaking Juve, with Piotr Zielinski twice forcing fine saves from Polish countryman Wojciech Szczesny.
It looked as though the hosts were set to launch a final assault when they were given a penalty six minutes before the end for a controversial handball decision against Alex Sandro given by the Video Assistant Referee, only for Insigne to crash his spot kick against the post and let the champions off the hook.
Italy remembers Astori
As elsewhere across the Serie A weekend, play at the Stadio San Paolo stopped in the 13th minute to honour the memory of deceased former Italy international Davide Astori, with fans of both sides applauding the ex-Fiorentina captain, who died in his sleep aged just 31 on March 4 last year.
Astori's name was chanted by fans of AC Milan, where he came through as a youth player, during a 1-0 win over Sassuolo on Saturday that took Gennaro Gattuso's side third and a point above Inter Milan, who lost 2-1 at Cagliari amid a public contract dispute with absent star striker Mauro Icardi.
But the most emotional scenes came during Fiorentina's 3-1 defeat at Atalanta, who kept their hopes of Champions League football alive thanks to goals from Josip Ilicic, Alejandro Gomez and Robin Gosens.
Atalanta playmaker Ilicic, who played alongside Astori at Fiorentina, broke down in tears when played stopped, while away fans held up "Astori" signs and the home fans showed appreciation for a player born and raised in the province of Bergamo, where the hosts are based.
"This situation has taken over a huge part of us this week. Tomorrow we will close to his family as we have been for the last year," said Fiorentina coach Stefano Pioli.
Gian Piero Gasperini's flamboyant Atalanta are six points behind fourth-placed Inter after winning the second spectacular clash with Fiorentina in a matter of days after their thrilling 3-3 Coppa Italia semi-final draw midweek.
They are level on 41 points with Lazio, 3-0 winners over Roma in Saturday's Rome derby, and Torino, who beat rock-bottom Chievo by the same score on Sunday.
Two points further back are Sampdoria, thanks to 36-year-old Fabio Quagliarella joining Ronaldo at the top of the scoring charts with 19 goals following a brace in his side's 2-1 win at struggling Spal.
"I don't feel like anyone special," said modest Quagliarella after the match. "I'm not the star man, I'm part of a team that works towards a single objective, everyone is useful and no one is indispensable."
Hazard is expected to make an imminent visit to the Spanish capital to search for houses and get to know the city which will soon be his new home. Soccer Premier League Real Madrid Transfer
Real Madrid Kit Leak: Images of New Home Shirt for 2019/20
Man City launch appeal against Uefa FFP probe and potential Champions League ban. The Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed City's appeal against Uefa
Football: Man City appeal against possible Champions League ban
City's recent run of three defeats in five games had raised questions over whether the champions had the durability to sustain a title challenge with a Liverpool side who have had an air of
Man City end Liverpool's unbeaten run, cut lead to four
Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League with a confident 3-0 victory over Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday. The win moves Juergen Klopps's side three points above second-placed
Premier League: Liverpool back on top after dominant win over
Atletico Madrid moved level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona after Antoine Griezmann's second-half penalty was enough to see off Espanyol 1-0 on Saturday. Griezmann smashed home from the
Antoine Griezmann fuming with Barcelona squad after they
Mourning Manchester United player Wes Brown is due to abandon a team tour of South Africa following the sudden death of his pregnant half-sister. The footballer was 'stunned' by news of the sudden
Jose Mourinho told Man United should sign 23-year-old as cover
Football: Hougang United lose two-goal lead twice to draw 3-3 with 10-man Tampines Rovers. Tampines Rovers and Hougang United players in action during their Singapore Premier League match at Our
Football: Hougang United lose two-goal lead twice to draw 3-3
De Gea, who is hailed as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, misread the flight of Xhaka's long-range effort and watched in horror as the ball flew by him. No United fans can take the
Get a report of the Cardiff City vs. Huddersfield Town 2018/2019 English Premier League football match. Huddersfield end losing run with draw at Cardiff. play.
Huddersfield end losing run with 0-0 draw at Cardiff
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that a majority of national soccer federations were in favour of expanding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams. Infantino said a decision would
Soccer: Infantino says he has wide support for 48-team World
LONDON: England soccer captain Harry Kane received the MBE award on Thursday for services to football after leading the national team to the World Cup semi-final in Russia last Summer. Prince William, the president of the English Football Association, presented the 25-year-old Tottenham striker with his medal at Buckingham Palace after Kane was
England soccer captain Kane honoured at Buckingham Palace
With his hat trick versus Switzerland, he's asked some big questions of Messi and co.
Hat-tricks Archives - Messi vs Ronaldo
messivsronaldo.net/tag/hat-tricks/
The world's greatest footballers - but who's the best? The battle of Messi vs Ronaldo has the world gripped. In this website, they go head to head in terms of goals, stats, achievements, abilities and much more.
Lionel Messi Talks Ronaldo, World's Best Players, Juventus
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is paying no attention to what Premier League title-rivals Manchester City are doing as his side hit back in the ding-dong battle at the top of the table.A 3-1 win
Jurgen Klopp Hails 'Best Game of the Season' as Liverpool
Sarri tips Callum to be future Blues star LONDON • Maurizio Sarri has said that Callum Hudson-Odoi is ready to start an English Premier League match for Chelsea and it will not be long before he becomes a regular starter, but has defended his cautious use of the youngster thus far.
Sarri drops huge hint about Chelsea star's future amid Bayern
Singapore Football News - Singapore international forward Ikhsan Fandi has signed a two-year contract with Norwegian second-tier side Raufoss, the club confirmed on Sunday morning (Singapore time).
Football: Ikhsan Fandi focused on task as he begins his
0 comments:
Post a Comment