Kvaratskhelia-Raspadori sink Juventus. Napoli resists Champions League dream

Kvaratskhelia-Raspadori sink Juventus. Napoli resists Champions League dream

Napoli beat Juventus 2-1 in the match scheduled for the 27th matchday of the 2023-2024 Serie A. The Italian champions took the lead with Kvaratskhelia's goal, scored in the 42nd minute. Juventus responded with Chiesa's goal in the 81st minute. The hosts scored the final 2-1 with Raspadori, who scored in the 88th minute after the penalty missed by Osimhen.

The victory allows the Azzurri to rise to 43 points, in seventh place. Juve remains at 57 points, in second place, -12 behind leaders Inter and with just one point ahead of Milan. Napoli, with their second consecutive victory (after the 6-1 at Sassuolo) returns to dreaming of a Champions League comeback (however not easy): fourth-placed Bologna has an eight-point advantage, but if Italy were to obtain 5 places for the top European club football competition, the focus would shift to Roma who have 'only' 4 points ahead (while sixth-placed Atalanta is +3 on Osimhen and his teammates).

Napoli-Juventus 2-1, Raspadori knocks out Allegri's team in the final

Napoli coach Calzona chooses Juan Jesus at the center of defense with Olivera on the left-handed lane, while in midfield another opportunity for Traorè with Lobotka and Anguissà. The Kvara, Osimhen and Politano trident confirmed at the front. On the other side Allegri starts in defense with Alex Sandro and Rugani together with Bremer. In the middle of the pitch, absent Rabiot and McKennie, there are Alcaraz and Miretti, with Cambiaso and Iling Junior on the flanks. Chiesa and Vlahovic in front.

Very lively match at Maradona with high pace from the first minutes and with both teams intent on scoring. The first opportunity arrives in the 10th minute for Juventus with Chiesa who steals the ball from Olivera and goes away to the right, cross to the far post for Vlahovic who hits the header, just touching the post. Juve were again dangerous in the 21st minute with Miretti serving Iling Junior who finished from the edge and found an attentive Meret. Napoli responds in the 24th minute: Traorè shoots the shot in the area but his attempt becomes an assist for Di Lorenzo who shoots undisturbed from a good position but sends it high. Shortly afterwards Politano tries with a free kick but Szczesny is careful. The actions follow one another from one front to the other and in the 34th minute the Bianconeri are very close to scoring: a through ball for Vlahovic who from a tight angle beats Meret with a delicious touch underneath, but only hits the post. Kvaratshelia takes the lead and in the 37th minute starts on the counterattack and finishes diagonally, once again finding Szczesny ready. Napoli persisted and in the 38th minute Olivera's soft header came from Di Lorenzo's cross and went past Szczesny but was blocked by Alex Sandro before he entered the goal.

The goal is in the air and arrives in the 42nd minute: another cross from Di Lorenzo, Bremer heads away but at the feet of Kvaratskhelia who volleys past Szczesny at the near post with a small deflection from Cambiaso. Allegri's team can get back into the match straight away but in the 45th minute Vlahovic makes a sensational mistake: very high pressure from Rugani who steals the ball from Traorè and passes to the Serbian who sends it high alone with his left foot.

At the start of the second half Juve immediately tried to find an equaliser. In the 53rd minute Cambiaso receives on the right but shoots very high. Vlahovic then tries again in the 61st minute but blocks Meret in two stages. Allegri changes the skin of his team and switches to 4-3-3 with Chiesa, Vlahovic and Yildiz up front. In the 81st minute the Bianconeri equalized with a perfect cross from Chiesa that made it 1-1.

It seems done but in the 88th minute Napoli takes the lead again. Penalty for the hosts with a warning from the VAR for a stomp from Nonge on Osimhen's ankle. The Nigerian goes to the spot but shoots badly and the Juventus goalkeeper saves but Raspadori pounces on the ball and sends it under the top corner for the 2-1. Final siege by Juve who devours the equalizer in the 92nd minute: following a corner, Yildiz finishes towards goal with the ball ending up at the feet of Rugani who sends it high over the crossbar from inside the area. There is no more time and Juve is forced into another stoppage with Napoli starting to believe in a Champions League place again.