Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria
San Marino

Five-star Napoli hammer title rivals Juventus to move 10 points clear

sportsmole.co.uk, 13 January 2023, 21:41
Napoli have moved 10 points clear at the top of the Serie A table courtesy of a famous 5-1 victory over fellow title contenders and bitter rivals Juventus this evening.

The contest pitted the top two in the table against each other, as well as Napoli's league-best attack against Juventus' league-best defence, but there was only one winner on the night as the leaders ran riot to knock Juventus down to third on goal difference.

Victor Osimhen scored twice and also helped himself to an assist in a man-of-the-match display, although Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was also instrumental in the victory with two assists and a goal of his own.

At least one of the pair had a hand in each of the first four goals on the night, before Elif Elmas capped off the rout 18 minutes from time.

The result adds to Napoli's growing list of impressive scorelines so far this season and will go down as one of their greatest-ever victories over their bitter rivals.

Indeed, it is only the second time that they have ever scored five goals against Juventus, also doing so during their previous Diego Maradona-inspired heyday in 1988, while it is the first time that Juventus have shipped five goals in any Serie A game since 1993.

The result was made all the more remarkable given that Massimiliano Allegri's side had not conceded in any of their previous eight Serie A games heading into the match, a run of clean sheets that stretched back to October and was their fifth-longest such streak ever.

It took Osimhen just 14 minutes to break that resolve on the night, nodding home after Wojciech Szczesny had denied Kvaratskhelia's acrobatic effort - the first league goal Juve had conceded in 770 minutes of action.

Osimhen then unselfishly squared for Kvaratskhelia to double the lead after 39 minutes, although Juve quickly responded through Angel Di Maria, who had earlier hit the woodwork too.

While the visitors may have felt that they were well in the game at half time, a fine strike from Amir Rrahmani 10 minutes after the restart, followed by Osimhen's second 10 minutes after that, put Napoli in complete control of the contest.

Elmas's deflected strike just seven minutes later piled even more misery on Juventus, who saw their eight-game winning streak - which had catapulted them back into title contention after a poor start to the season - ended in humiliating fashion.

The result is another major boost to Napoli's hopes of winning the Serie A title for the first time since 1990 and only the third time overall, whereas Juventus could now end the weekend as low as fourth depending on results elsewhere.

Top News

25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are reportedly contemplating the sale of La Masia graduate Alejandro Balde this summer to help aid the club's persistent financial challenges. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Plymouth Argyle have confirmed the appointment of Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney as their new head coach. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have pencilled in summer talks with one of their home-grown talents amid speculation that he could leave the club, according to a report. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Incoming Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has reportedly identified a Liverpool veteran as an ideal assistant to work alongside at Camp Nou. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has revealed his priority areas to strengthen in the upcoming transfer market in another hint that he could stay on as manager for 2024-25. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A fledgling Chelsea attacker is reportedly in advanced talks to join a Champions League-competing club for the 2024-25 season. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly contemplating whether to target another Paraguayan winger as they bid to strengthen their squad. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Club Brugge play host to neighbours Cercle Brugge on Sunday looking for the point that they require to seal the Belgian Pro League title and qualify for the Champions League. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A highly-rated Bayern Munich attacker has supposedly set his sights on a future move to Real Madrid amid uncertainty surrounding his future. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is reportedly considering dropping one of the Red Devils' serial silverware winners for Saturday's FA Cup final against Manchester City. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Under-fire Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has dropped a pair of hints that he could stay on at Old Trafford next term, in spite of claims that the Red Devils have decided to sack him. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The season is over and while the transfer window doesn't technically open until June 14, clubs across the UK and Europe are free to get deals in place ahead of next season. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atlanta vs. Los Angeles (Sunday, 12.30am) Two sides in contrasting form go head to head in the MLS as Atlanta United play host to Los Angeles FC at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Karagumruk vs. Samsunspor (Saturday, 2.00pm) Fatih Karagumruk host Samsunspor on the final day of the 2023-24 Turkish Super Lig season at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Osasuna vs. Villarreal (Saturday, 1.00pm) Jagoba Arrasate will take charge of his final game as Osasuna boss when his side takes on Villarreal at El Sadar on Saturday. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Juventus vs. Monza (Saturday, 5.00pm) Wrapping up another tough season in Turin, Serie A giants Juventus can only finish third at best, as they tackle mid-table Monza on Saturday. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Kasimpasa and Besiktas draw the curtain on their 2023-24 Turkish Super Lig campaign when they square off at the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium on Sunday. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly set to face stiff competition from Chelsea in their pursuit of signing the promising Argentine talent Aaron Anselmino in the upcoming transfer window. 24 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Czech Republic Under-17s and Serbia Under-17s will be bidding for top spot in Group B when they go head-to-head in Sunday's clash at the European Under-17 Championship. 24 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Mason Greenwood has dropped a major hint regarding his future with Manchester United amid interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs, according to a report. 24 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Vasteras SK are set to host Brommapojkarna at Hitachi Energy Arena on Sunday in Sweden's Allsvenskan. 24 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hammarby Fotboll are set to host IK Sirius at Tele2 Arena on Sunday in Sweden's Allsvenskan. 24 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Adana Demirspor and Istanbul Basaksehir draw the curtains on their 2023-24 Turkish Super Lig campaign when they lock horns at the New Adana Stadium on Sunday. 24 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ukraine Under-17s and Cyprus Under-17s will both be playing for pride when they face off at the AEK Arena on Sunday. 24 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Trabzonspor host Ankaragucu at Papara Park on the final day of the 2023-24 Turkish Super Lig season. 24 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final matchday of the 2023-24 Turkish Super Lig season promises a tense encounter as Konyaspor host Galatasaray at Torku Arena. 24 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fenerbahce cling onto their dream of lifting the Turkish Super Lig title as they host Istanbulspor at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on Sunday. 24 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bournemouth have announced the appointment of Tiago Pinto as the club's first-ever president of football operations. 24 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bournemouth have announced the appointment of Tiago Pinto as the club's first-ever president of football operations. 24 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Croatia Under-17s will look to seal their place in the European Under-17 Championship quarter-final when they face Wales Under-17s in Sunday's clash at the Dasaki Stadium.