Napoli back on top
MILAN: Jorginho fired Napoli back to the top of Serie A on Sunday with a 1-0 win at Udinese as champions Juventus returned to winning ways 3-0 against Crotone.
Napoli move ahead of Inter Milan who had gone top on Friday with Argentina striker Mauro Icardi bagging a brace in a 3-1 win at Cagliari.
The leading trio of Napoli, Inter and Juventus have now pulled clear of the pursuing pack, with Roma and Lazio both held on the weekend.
Napoli have 38 points from 14 games with Inter two points behind. Juventus are third, four points off the leaders with Roma three points behind the six-time reigning champions in fourth.
In spite of terrible pitch conditions at Udinese’s Dacia Arena, Jorginho managed to open early off the rebound after missing a penalty on 33 minutes as new Udinese coach Massimo Oddo lost his first game in charge.
Napoli lacked inspiration after their Champions League exploits midweek and could thank goalkeeper Pepe Reina for keeping out a late Antonin Barak effort.
“It wasn’t easy, the pitch was in horrible condition and barely qualified to play top flight football on. We needed three touches just to get the ball under control,” complained Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri.
Juventus bounced back from their defeat at Sampdoria last weekend with three second half goals from Mario Mandzukic, Mattia De Sciglio and Medhi Benatia.
A moment of madness from captain Daniele De Rossi frustrated Roma who were held 1-1 at struggling Genoa after the veteran Italian was sent off in the second half for pulling Gianluca Lapadula’s shirt and slapping him in the face.
Stephen El Shaarawy had opened for Roma with a volley off an Alessandro Florenzi assist on 59 minutes but ten minutes later De Rossi saw red after consultation with the video assistant referee (VAR).
Lapadula slotted in the resulting penalty.
“He’s not a kid, especially when he’s the leader,” said Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco. “These are two lost points, although I have to say I’m happy with the performance apart from Daniele’s nonsense.”
Roma are fourth, but the stalemate ends their record of 12 straight Serie A away wins this season. AFP