Napoli cut gap to Juventus, Icardi fires Inter into third

NAPOLI moved back to within six points of Serie A leaders Juventus yesterday as goals from Adam Ounas and Lorenzo Insigne (pix) clinched a 2-0 win ovear Sassuolo, while Inter Milan took third by beating SPAL.

Carlo Ancelotti’s hosts slipped off the pace last weekend with a loss to Juve in Turin, but managed to avoid dropping further adrift, after the embattled Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the reigning champions’ victory at Udinese on Saturday.

“We played some really good football today, even if Sassuolo were not an easy opponent to deal with,” said Ancelotti.

Algerian youngster Ounas, making his full debut in Serie A, gave Napoli the perfect start with a magnificent goal in only the third minute. and Insigne came off the bench early in the second half and secured the win in trademark style with 18 minutes remaining, cutting inside off the left wing and curling a ferocious shot into the far top corner.

“I am going through a good period of form, I hope to continue like this and to keep scoring regularly, but aside from all that, I really hope Napoli can go all the way in every competition,” said Insigne, who also scored the winner against Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Napoli finished the game playing against 10 men, after Sassuolo wing-back Rogerio’s late red card.

Inter Milan moved into third place, eight points off the lead, after a 2-1 win at SPAL, their fourth in a row. Captain Mauro Icardi scored both Inter’s goals.

The Argentine opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a header which glanced off SPAL’s Johan Djourou before adding a second off an incisive pass from Ivan Perisic 12 minutes from time.

In between, however, Mirco Antenucci missed a penalty for SPAL before Alberto Paloschi temporarily pulled his side level in the 72nd minute.

Ciro Immobile scored his first-ever goal against Fiorentina as Lazio claimed a 1-0 win at the Stadio Olimpico earlier on Sunday and now stand fourth in the table.

AC Milan extended their unbeaten run to eight matches in all competitions as Gonzalo Higuain scored twice in a 3-1 victory over lowly Chievo at the San Siro.

Milan sit 10th, but only four points off the top three with a game in hand. – AFP