High-scoring Napoli continue title push

NAPOLI reclaimed top spot in Serie A yesterday maintaining their unbeaten record with a win 3-1 at Sassuolo to retain their three-point cushion on Juventus and Lazio.

Ahead of hosting Manchester City in Champions League midweek, Napoli responded to Juventus’s 2-0 win at AC Milan on Saturday.

Maurizio Sarri’s side have 31 points from 11 games, although undefeated Inter Milan could close the gap to two points at Verona today.

Napoli took advantage of Sassuolo’s Stefano Sensi hitting the crossbar for Allan to open the scoring after 22 minutes.

Diego Falcinelli equalised for Sassuolo on 41 minutes but Jose Callejon got Napoli ahead again just before the break off a curling corner kick.

Dries Mertens completed the scoring after 54 minutes off a Raul Albiol assist as Napoli notched up a ninth win with at least three goals scored.

Lazio joined the leading group on Sunday with a 5-1 win at Benevento who slumped to an 11th defeat in as many games.

“We had everything to lose but we were able to make the match simple with a good approach,” said Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi.

Inzaghi’s Lazio are riding high despite the controversy which overshadowed the previous week when their fans posted photos of Anne Frank in a jersey of hated rivals Roma in the Stadio Olympico.

Ciro Immobile gave an inspirational performance again for Lazio – who claimed a sixth straight Serie A win – as he scored after 13 minutes and set up three goals.

“I’m happy with the three assists, as my teammates tell me I never pass the ball and only ever want to score, so they can’t complain now,” said Immobile, who has scored 14 goals in 11 matches.

Bastos opened after four minutes for Lazio with Adam Marusic also on target with the visitors leading 3-0 at the break.

Moroccan Achraf Lazaar pulled one back for Benevento in the second half – just their fourth goal of the season – but Lazio added another two through Marco Parolo and Nani, who scored his first goal since arriving in Rome this summer. – AFP