Napoli might seal its first Serie A title in additional than three many years subsequent weekend.
A stoppage-time aim from Giacomo Raspadori earned the runaway Italian chief a 1-0 win at Juventus on April 23.
“I’m shaking,” Raspadori stated. “We wanted it so much and Juve created a lot of problems, but we believed to the very end.”
The victory moved Napoli a whopping 17 factors forward of second-place Lazio, which was overwhelmed 1-0 at dwelling by Torino on Saturday.
If Napoli beats regional rival Salernitana at dwelling subsequent Saturday and Inter Milan prevents Lazio from successful on the San Siro a day later, Napoli may have clinched with six rounds to spare.
“It is a very important goal but we still have games that need to be won,” Raspadori stated. “This offers us an enormous hand. … (But) now we have just one factor in thoughts: incomes three factors towards Salernitana.”
It would be Napoli’s first Italian league title since Diego Maradona led the southern club to its only previous league championships in 1987 and 1990.
Raspadori was left unmarked to volley in a cross from Elif Elmas just when Juventus was gaining confidence and threatening at the other end.
Sensing the title nearing, Napoli celebrated wildly after the goal and at the final whistle. The victory was a welcome relief after a recent dip in form that included Napoli being eliminated from the Champions League quarterfinals by AC Milan.
Napoli didn’t place a single shot on target in the first half, and the Partenopei were fortunate when the referee waved off a late Juventus goal from Angel Di Maria due to an offensive foul on Stanislav Lobotka before a counterattack.
Also, Napoli protested early on when Juventus defender Federico Gatti appeared to take a swipe at Khvicha Kvaratskhelia with his arm but the referee ruled to play on.
Hirving Lozano of Napoli and Adrien Rabiot of Juventus compete for the ball in the course of the Italian Serie A soccer match between Juventus and Napoli on April 23, 2023.
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AP
Juventus’ 15-point penalty for false accounting was suspended on enchantment Thursday — the identical day that the Bianconeri superior to the Europa League semifinals.
Juventus is third, two factors behind Lazio.
It marked a season sweep for Napoli towards Juventus after routing the Bianconeri 5-1 at dwelling in January, and a 3rd consecutive defeat within the league for Juventus after dropping to Lazio and Sassuolo.
Lukaku devastating
Inter has been ready all season for this model of Romelu Lukaku.
The Belgium striker scored twice and arrange the third aim in a 3-0 win at Empoli to finish Inter’s five-match winless run in Serie A.
The targets have been Lukaku’s first from open play within the Italian league because the opening spherical of the season in August, having struggled with a hamstring damage in the course of the first half of the season.
The return to type could not have come at a greater time for Lukaku, with the second leg of the Italian Cup semifinals arising towards Juventus on Wednesday, adopted by the Champions League semifinals towards metropolis rival Milan subsequent month.
“I’m getting my confidence back,” Lukaku stated. “I’ve always got (to) give my all for this (club), because they gave me a big opportunity to become the player that I am today.”
Inter remained sixth, two points behind Milan, which beat visiting Lecce 2-0 with a brace from Rafael Leão.
It’s been a big 24 hours for Lukaku, who had his one-match suspension for the Cup match overturned by the Italian soccer federation on Saturday in what it called a statement against racism.
Lukaku had picked up a second yellow card in the opening leg for provoking Juventus fans by holding his finger to his lips as if to silence the crowd after converting a stoppage-time penalty equalizer. However, Lukaku — who is Black — had been subjected to repeated discriminatory chants.
Empoli beat Inter 1-0 at the San Siro in January and posed a threat in the first half.
Lukaku took over shortly after the break when he traded passes with Marcelo Brozovic before shooting precisely inside the far post. His second was a show of force, as Lukaku took on defender Ardian Ismajl 1-on-1 and fooled his marker with a step over before blasting into the far corner.
Then Lukaku turned provider, setting up Lautaro Martinez to finish off a counterattack – brining back memories of the “LuLa” mixture that labored so nicely when Inter gained Serie A in 2020-21.
Leão’s affect
Having additionally been key for Milan when the Rossoneri eradicated Napoli within the Champions League quarterfinals, Leão was within the highlight once more towards Lecce.
Leão soared above his marker to move in a cross from Sandro Tonali 5 minutes earlier than the break. Then halfway by way of the second half, he took management in Milan’s personal half and surged ahead earlier than driving an angled shot by way of the legs of Lecce defender Federico Baschirotto With his eleventh and twelfth targets within the league this season, Leão turned solely the second Portuguese participant to attain 10 or extra targets in consecutive Serie A seasons after Cristiano Ronaldo did it in three straight seasons for Juventus from 2018-19 to 2020-21.
Milan additionally had a first-half penalty kick waved off by the VAR after what was initially whistled as a foul by Baschirotto.
Also, Monza got here from two targets right down to beat Fiorentina 3-2 with Matteo Pessina changing a penalty for the winner; and Udinese beat struggling Cremonese 3-0.