13 February 2021
Lorenzo Insigne’s penalty proved decisive as Napoli claimed a 1-0 victory over Juventus at the Stadio Maradona on Saturday evening.
INSIGNE PENALTY PUTS NAPOLI IN FRONT
Both teams started the game looking to press the other and figure out the opposition’s tactics, and it resulted in a rather even opening 25 minutes with few chances. Napoli were then awarded a penalty, upon consulting VAR, on the half hour after Chiellini’s hand struck Rrahmani's face. Lorenzo Insigne hit home from nine yards out, sending the penalty into the roof of the net. The Italian then raced into the box, leaving de Ligt in his tracks but Chiellini was there for support and brilliantly charged down his effort. Chiesa saw his effort curl over the bar, while the half ended with Ronaldo’s free-kick smacking the wall.
MERET DECISIVE FOR NAPOLI
The start of the second half saw Alex Sandro was brought on in place of Juan Cuadrado. Juventus went on the attack from the get-go: Ronaldo flashed an effort wide of goal, before then seeing his shot from point-blank range saved by Meret. The Napoli goalkeeper repeated the feat by pulling off yet another strong save on Chiesa’s blazing strike, which he palmed over the bar. Morata had a goal ruled out for offside in the 63rd minute, due to Chiellini being in an offside position when making the assist. McKennie was then introduced into the game in place of Bernardeschi, as Ronaldo saw his effort at the near post denied by Meret. Juve were piling on the pressure in the final minutes of the game, and Chiesa saw another one of his effort sail narrowly wide of the post, before Meret pulled off yet another terrific save to deny Morata with his feet. Despite their late efforts, Juventus couldn’t find the equaliser as Napoli took home the points.
Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Maksimovic, Rrahmani, Mario Rui; Bakayoko, Zielinski; Politano, L Insigne, Lozano; Osimhen
Napoli bench: Contini, Zedadka, Elmas, Fabian Ruiz, Petagna, Costanzo, Cioffi, Lobotka
Juventus: Szczesny; Cuadrado (Alex Sandro 46’), De Ligt, Chiellini, Danilo; Chiesa, Bentancur (Kulusevski 72’), Rabiot, Bernardeschi (McKennie 64’); Morata, Ronaldo
Juventus bench: Pinsoglio, Buffon, Alex Sandro, McKennie, Bonucci, Demiral, Di Pardo, Frabotta, Fagioli, Kulusevski, Peeters
