Giacomo Raspadori’s 93rd-minute volley gave Napoli a dramatic 1-0 win against Juventus on Sunday, securing a rare Serie A double over the Bianconeri.
The remarkable finish to the match in Turin was completely at odds with everything that had gone before, a dull first 70 minutes suggesting both clubs were collectively catching their breath at the end of a crazy week.
Juve are back in the top four after a successful initial appeal of an earlier points deduction, while Napoli are fully focused on the Scudetto after crashing out of the UEFA Champions League.
If a point then suited either side, neither showed it, with Juve twice having the ball in the net in the closing stages before Raspadori grabbed what could be considered a deserved winner.
This encounter was certainly not unlike the reverse fixture, in which the Neapolitan league dominated and won 5-1.
The Partenopei created very little until Victor Osimhen saw three chances come and go in quick succession in the second half.
The striker deflected a low shot off the outside of the post with 20 minutes remaining before nodding the corner straight at Wojciech Szczesny.
Osimhen lifted a first-time effort over the bar soon after and that error could have proved costly as Angel Di Maria netted a deflected strike onto the counter, only for VAR to flag a marginal foul in the set-piece.
Dušan Vlahovič was also denied after scoring as Federico Chiesa dribbled the ball offside, but it looked like Napoli’s last chance was again wasted by Osimhen when Szczesny saved well.
However, seconds later, Eljif Elmas crossed from the right and Raspadori tapped a low shot between the keeper’s legs to seal the points.
What does it mean? Double pleasure for Naples
This wasn’t a game that will live long in the memory, but Raspadori’s goal certainly did.
The decisive strike gave Napoli just their fourth ever Serie A double over Juventus and their first since 2009-10.
Juve may not be their title rivals this season – although they would be unlikely to finish second with a win – but victories over the Bianconeri are always warmly received in Napoli.
