Napoli draw with Roma to cut Juventus’ lead
NAPLES: Dries Mertens grabbed a late equaliser to snatch Napoli a 1-1 draw with Roma on Sunday which saw Carlo Ancelotti’s men cut Juventus’ lead at the top of Serie A to six points.
After seeing Paris Saint-germain steal a last-gasp 2-2 in their midweek Champions League clash at the Parc des Princes, this time it was Napoli’s turn to salvage a point at the death.
Stephan El Shaawary’s early opener for Roma looked to have won the game for the visitors, but Belgian international Mertens pounced in the 90th minute to limit the damage for Napoli.
Reigning champions Juventus remain well clear after Cristiano Ronaldo scored a double, including a thunderous 25-yard winner, in a 2-1 win at Empoli on Saturday.
MILAN PIP SAMPDORIA
Earlier on Sunday, Gonzalo Higuain hit a crucial equaliser and Suso fired a second-half winner as AC Milan got back on track in Serie A with a 3-2 win over Sampdoria.
Coach Gennaro Gattuso was under intense pressure after a lastgasp derby loss to Inter last week was compounded by a 2-1 defeat by Real Betis in the Europa League on Thursday.
But the former Rangers and Milan midfielder has won respite, for the moment at least, after a fourth league win in nine outings left Milan fifth, albeit 13 points adrift of leaders and champions Juventus.