Grateful for Spall mercies
Luciano Spalletti insists Napol i sti l l need to improve after they beat Torino to consol idate third place in Serie A.
The Partenopei were made to sweat for their three points in Turin after Etrit Berisha saved Lorenzo Insigne’s penalty in 61 minutes.
But Fabian Ruiz pounced on a poor Tommaso Pobega error in midfield to secure the 1- 0 win as they opened a four- point lead over Juventus in fourth.
Spalletti said: “I liked t he pre ss today, particularly Insigne, who was tripling up in the build up to the goal. We still need to improve but we moved the ball around better after the restart.”
Insigne now has only two games left to play in a Napoli jersey before the captain and homegrown hero goes to join Toronto in the MLS.
Spalletti admitted he was gutted to see the outgoing club legend miss from the spot for the
fourth time this season. He said: “He took on the responsibility of the penalty that many others wouldn’t want.
“He just needs to relax, his decision is to be accepted and it’s not easy for us losing a player of his level.
“He can play anywhere with his head held high.”
Elsewhere, Dutch winger Sheraldo Becker grabbed a goal and an assist as Union Berlin stunned fellow top-four hopefuls Freiburg with a 4-1 win in a dramatic afternoon in the Bundesliga.
Freiburg remained in a Champions League place overnight but will drop out of the top four if RB Leipzig beat Augsburg today.
Third- placed Bayer Leverkusen secured Champions Lea g ue qualification as Czech striker Patrik Schick scored two in a 4-2 win at Hoffenheim.