Callejon helps Napoli down Inter Milan
Milan, May 1: A first-half winner from Jose Callejon handed Napoli the points from a 1-0 win at Inter Milan on Sunday that closed the gap on Roma in second to a point.
By the end of a San Siro sizzler that saw Stefano Pioli’s outplayed hosts stage a brief, second-half comeback, Callejon’s 43rd minute opener proved the difference to a win that put Napoli in firm contention for the second automatic Champions League qualifying place.
Roma remain second at nine points behind Juventus with four games to play but Luciano Spalletti’s men are now just one point ahead of Napoli, who remain seven points ahead of Lazio, in fourth.
Milan travelled to relegationhaunted Crotone looking to make up for a shock 2-1 San Siro defeat to struggling Empoli, following their Chinese takeover last week. But Vincenzo Montella’s side disappointed in a 1-1 draw. A point left Crotone third from bottom but now just four points behind Empoli.
In the fight to secure the second automatic Champions League spot, Roma blundered. Keita Balde struck twice, either side of a Dusan Basta strike and Daniele De Rossi’s goal for Roma, as a dominant Lazio ruined Francesco Totti’s ‘final’ derby to give Napoli a pre-game boost.
Elsewhere, former Roma striker Mattia Destro struck in either half to complete a brace as Bologna secured their top flight survival with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Udinese. Genoa and Empoli, however, face a nervous end to the season after defeats to Chievo and Sassuolo respectively left them just above the drop zone.