5- star Napoli drub Cagliari
Milan, Feb. 27: Napoli pulled four points clear at the top of Serie A on Monday with a 5- 0 hammering of Cagliari a day after champions Juventus’ game in Turin was snowed off.
Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens gave Maurizio Sarri’s side a comfortable two- goal lead at the break with a goal from captain Marek Hamsik, a Lorenzo Insigne penalty and Mario Rui’s free- kick sealing a 10th straight league win.
Napoli are targeting a third Serie ‘ A’ title and first since 1990, with their sole focus now on the Scudetto after their Europa League and Italian Cup exits.
“It’s an important result,” said Napoli forward Insigne. “We are ahead but it depends on us, we must always win. Juve never give up, but we have shown we have great character and big heart.”
And in Sardinia they dominated Cagliari — who are just five points above the drop zone — as snow wreaked havoc on the Italian Peninsula.
Sunday’s Serie A game between champions Juventus and Atalanta in Turin was postponed because of blizzard- like conditions in northern Italy.
Napoli from 26 have 69 points matches, four points ahead of Juventus, who have a game in hand, with Lazio moving up to third after Sunday’s 3- 0 win over Sassuolo.
Cagliari gave a first start to North Korean forward Han Kwang- Song who has returned to Mediterranean from a loan Perugia.
Brazilian Allan set up Callejon for the opener after 29 minutes and, three minutes before the break, the island spell at Mertens finished Elseid Hysaj cross.
Cagliari also had their chances but Leonardo Pavoletti was off target twice with Pepe Reina denying Han.
But after the break Napoli dominated with Hamsik getting the third on the hour mark for his sixth in the league this season.
SNOW TROUBLE FOR JUVE, MILAN off an
Snow permitting, holders Juventus will take on Atalanta in the Italian Cup semifinal second leg on Wednesday with AC Milan looking to complete their Roman conquest against Lazio.
Italy has been gripped by snow and icy weather in recent days.
Juventus and Atalanta’s Serie A game in Turin on Sunday was postponed because of the conditions, with more snowfall predicted in northern Italy during the week.
The capital was not spared either with rare snowfall paralysing Rome on Monday, a day after AC Milan beat Roma 2- 0 in Serie A.
Gennaro Gattuso’s Milan remained in the capital ahead of the midweek game against Lazio — if they win, they will be back in Rome for the final on May 9.