Roma regain top spot

BRAZILIAN star Maicon inspired Roma’s 3-1 win over Udinese yesterday which moved them back to the top of Serie A while defending champions Juventus slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Sassuolo.

Hot on the heels of Roma are Napoli, Fiorentina, and Inter Milan, who beat Bologna 1-0 on Tuesday, with all three clubs just two points behind in the standings.

Maurizio Sarri’s Napoli overcame Palermo 2-0 and La Viola were victorious at Verona by the same scoreline.

At the Stadio Olimpico, Roma were two goals up inside 10 minutes, first Miralem Pjanic bagged his fifth goal of the season, tapping in a Maicon cross from close range.

Then the Brazilian fullback doubled the lead after a surging run down the right and toe poke past Orestis Karnezis.

Rudi Garcia’s men comfortably controlled the game and Gervinho guaranteed the three points midway through the second half, though Cyril Thereau pulled one back for the visitors with 13 minutes left.

Napoli extended their winning streak to seven matches in all competitions, and have now gone 12 games without defeat.

Gonzalo Higuain got the opener just before halftime, then Dries Mertens sealed the win 10 minutes from the end. Sassuolo heaped more misery on Juventus as they took all three points at the Mapei Stadium thanks to a magnificent freekick by Nicola Sansone. Giorgio Chiellini was also sent off for Juve.